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Book , M M . 
Gopyiight N° 

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BUNT AND BILL. 


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SHE RAISED HER EYES TO HIS, GAVE A SUDDEN 
GASP, AND LOOKED AT HIM CLOSELY; THEN UTTERED A 
LITTLE CRY AMD 1 CAUGHT HIS HAND.’’ ( See Page 1$2.) 



BUNT AND BILL 


BY 

CLARA MULHOLLAND. 

•V \ 

\ 


s 


New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: 


B B NZ I GB R BROTHERS 

Printers to the Holy Apostolic See. 


\ 




BENZIGER’S JUVENILE SERIES 

s l 

EACH VOLUME, 45 CENTS, SENT POSTPAID 


of CONGRESS 
les Received 

20 1 90 ? 

ight Entry 

/ m c 

*+T 

PY B. 


No. 


The Great Captain. By Katharine T. Hinkson. 

The Young Color Guard. By Mary G. Bonesteel. 
The Haldeman Children. By Mary E. Mannix. 

Two Little Girls. By Lilian Mack. 

Nan Nobody. By Mary T. Waggaman. 

Dimpling’s Success. By Clara Mulhoiland. 

An Adventure With the Apaches. By G. Ferry. 
BlSTOURl. By A. Melandri. 

A HOSTAGE OF War. By Mary G. Bonesteel. 

Fred's Little Daughter. By Sara Trainer Smith. 

The Sea-Gull’s Rock. By J. Sandeau. 
Jack-O’-Lantern. By Mary T. Waggaman. 

An Every-Day Girl. By Mary T. Crowley. 

Pauline Archer. By Anna T. Sadlier. 

Pancho and Panchita. By Mary E. Mannix. 

The Armorer of Solingen. By W. Herchenbach. 
Wrongfully Accused. By W. Herchenbach. 

The Inundation. By Canon Schmid. 

The Canary Bird. By Canon Schmid. 

Mary Tracy’s Fortune. By Anna T. Sadlier. 

The Golden Lily. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson. 
Recruit Tommy Collins. By Mary G. Bonesteel. 

Bunt and Bill. By Clara Mulhoiland. 

As True AS GOLD. By Mary E. Mannix. 

The Berkleys. By Emma Howard Wight. 

Bob o’ Link. By Mary T. Waggaman. 

The Mysterious Doorway. By Anna T. Sadlier. 
Little Missy. By Mary T. Waggaman. 

By Branscome River. By Marion Ames Taggart. 

The Madcap Set at St. Anne’s. By M. J. Brunowe. 

A Summer at Woodville. By Anna T. Sadlier. 

An Heir of Dreams. By S. M. O’Malley. 

Old Charlmont’s Seed-Bi=d. «By Sara Trainer Smith. 
The Queen’s Page. By Kafpajine Tynan Hinkson. 
Tom's Luck-Pot. By Ma,rv'T * Waggaman. 

The Blissylvania Post-Office. By M. A. Taggart. 
Three Girls and Especially One. By M. A. Taggart. 


Copyright. 1902. by Benziger Brothers- 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I. 

Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli.. 


CHAPTER II. 

“A Little Strolling Fairy”. 


CHAPTER III. 

Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


CHAPTER IY. 

“An Original Affair” 


CHAPTER Y. 

A Thunderstorm and What it Brought... 

5 


PAGE 

7 

22 

41 

54 

76 


6 


Contents . 


CHAPTER VI. page 

Bunt and Bill Write a Letter 104 

CHAPTER VII. 

The King and Queen of Hearts 115 

CHAPTER VIII. 

An Unexpected Ending 144 


BUNT AND BILL 


CHAPTER I. 

TIDDLEDY WINKS AND THE GREAT MOWGLI. 

Bunt was trembling with, excitement. 
Her dark eyes were sparkling. Her chubby 
cheeks, red as two round rosy apples, were 
hot and burning, and her usually meTry, 
laughing mouth was as solemn as solemn 
could be. 

“ I love the game of Tiddledy Winks. 
IBs so exciting,” she cried, after, for her, 
an extraordinarily long silence. “ But 
oh ! ” with a little gasp, “ Fd be so pleased 
if I could beat Bill.” 

“ That you won’t do,” said a sturdy blue- 
eyed boy, with a complexion like a ripe 
peach, laughing mockingly. “ You fancy 
7 


8 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

yourself good at the game, my sweet one, but 
you’re not a match for me — yet.” 

“ You’ll see if I’m not,” his sister cried. 
“ Just wait. I’ll be back when my turn 
comes. But I simply must wash my hands.” 
And she darted out of the room. 

“ Put your head under the pump, or the 
cold water tap in the dressing-room,” Bill 
called after her. “ That will cool you down 
a bit, old girl.” And he hopped the bone 
counters into the small wooden cup with 
the greatest ease. 

“I think I must stop Tiddledy Winks 
altogether,” a sweet voice said, and Mrs. 
Maybank looked across the room at her lit- 
tle son and two tall, slim girls of thirteen 
and fourteen, who were seated round the 
table. “ Bunt gets so excited over it, that 
really, I don’t think it’s good for her.” 

“ Bunt is a muff,” replied Bill. “ But in- 
deed, mother, the excitement won’t do her 
any harm — and it’s such a jolly good 
game.” 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 9 

“ Don’t be uneasy about Bunt,” laughed 
Dr. Maybank, approaching the table. 
“ She’s all right. She’s an earnest little 
thing, and throws herself heart and soul into 
whatever she is doing. But don’t talk, Bill, 
or you’ll lose. Concentrate your attention, 
my boy. If you want to succeed at any- 
thing, you must do that.” 

“Yes, father — but this is so easy.” Bill 
giggled and wriggled about on his chair. 
Ilis thoughts wandered away from the 
game ; his fingers lost their accuracy, and the 
counters flew here and there; everywhere 
but into the cup. 

“You’re beaten. Clarice is the cham- 
pion,” cried Lucy Lonergan, clapping her 
hands. “You were so conceited. Bill, that 
you deserved to lose.” 

“You have lost, simply because you did 
not take pains and keep your mind on the 
game. Bill,” said his father. “What’s worth 
doing at all, my boy, is worth doing well. 
You have thrown away the championship 


10 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

through your carelessness. Now, if Bunt 
beats Clarice, she’ll have beaten you.” 

“ That’s not likely,” said Bill, annoyed 
at his failure. “ Bunt’s only a baby. But 
here she is, so we’ll soon see. I’ll back 
Clarice to win in a canter.” 

Bunt came in very quietly. All her ex- 
citement was gone. Her face was cool, her 
hands steady, and there was a look of calm 
determination in her brown eyes as she 
walked across the room. 

“ Sit down, Bunt. It’s your turn now,” 
her father said, glancing admiringly at the 
sweet earnest face and slim little figure of 
his nine-year-old daughter. “ Do you like 
a high or a low chair, dear ? ” 

“ Neither, thank you, father. I prefer to 
stand,” she replied quietly, taking up her 
position at the end of the table. 

It was a close game. Clarice played well, 
and having just beaten Bill, who was gener- 
ally the best performer at the “ Tiddledy 
Winks ” table of all the children she knew, 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 11 

she was certain of defeating his younger 
sister, Miss Bunt, very speedily. 

Not a word was spoken, and the room was 
so still and quiet that one might almost have 
heard a pin drop as the game proceeded. 
One after the other the counters flew into 
the cup, first from Clarice, then from Bunt, 
till at last, only some three or four re- 
mained of each color. Two lying close to 
the side of the cup were sent in with great 
skill by the small girl, and the elder trem- 
bled nervously; then hopped her counter to 
a distant corner of the table. 

Very steadily, her eyes fixed upon her 
work, Bunt continued, and with great accu- 
racy sent her counters straight to their des- 
tination. As the last rattled into the cup, 
Clarice looked round with a rueful counte- 
nance. Five still remained to her, and she 
saw with disgust that she was beaten, igno- 
miniously beaten, by this child, four years 
her junior. 

“ Bravo, little one ! 99 Dr. Maybank cried. 


12 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

delighted. “ The victory is yours. And 
you have won it by keeping your head cool, 
and fixing your attention on what you were 
doing. I trust. Master Bill, that you will 
take a lesson from your younger sister. But 
don’t fret, Clarice, you played very well, 
only Mistress Bunt was one too many for 
you.” And he caught his little daughter in 
his arms and carried her over to her mother, 
humming, “ See the Conquering Hero 
Comes.” 

Clarice shook back her long mane of fair 
hair, and laughed gaily. 

“ I’m glad she won,” she said, magnani- 
mously. “ She deserved it. I wish I could 
keep so cool.” 

“ It was the pump did it,” cried Bill. 
“ We’ll put our heads under it next time 
we are going to play. Why, she was wild 
with excitement and as red as a peony till 
she went to the water. Believe me, there’s 
nothing like a cold douche for settling one’s 
nerves and keeping one’s head cool.” 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 13 


“ Thank you/’ Clarice cried, making a 
wry face. “ No cold water cure for me. 
Short-haired folk like yon and Bunt may do 
that sort of thing. But Lucy and I would 
be like a pair of drowned rats, if we played 
such pranks with our hair.” 

“Poor dears, yes. Shall I,” snatching 
up a pair of scissors, “ cut off a few yards, 
and so cool your aching brows ? ” 

“ If you dare ! ” Clarice uttered a shriek 
of well-feigned terror, and darted off across 
the big, wide, oak-panelled hall, out through 
the open door, down the broad stone steps, 
and away over the beautiful sunlit lawn. 

“Let us fly back to our wigwams,” cried 
Bill, catching up a paper cap decorated with 
goose-quills and red and white streamers. 
“ The great chieftain, Mowgli, shows us the 
way.” 

“ Where you lead, we follow,” replied 
Lucy and Bunt, pulling caps, something like 
his, tightly over their ears. “You,” bow- 
ing low, “are our master.” 


14 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

“ Good. Pick up your blunderbusses. 
We’ll fight the great Mowgli — and win.” 

And he dashed down the steps, yelling and 
shouting and brandishing a big stick. 

“ Three against one’s not fair,” laughed 
Lucy. “What do you say. Bunt?” 

“ Hardly. But what can we do ? ” 

“ You might turn Mowgli’s knight.” 

“ She wouldn’t let me. See, they’re at it 
already. Ah ! ” waving her stick over her 
head. “ We must get into our wigwam.” 

“Or die in the attempt,” cried Lucy. 
“ Come on, Chimpo Ching, and fight your 
best.” 

“Yes, Chino Chink, I will. Lead on.” 

And the two little girls ran shouting and 
whooping over the grass. 

As they approached the largest wigwam, 
a little hut made out of the branches of a 
big low-growing willow tree, and covered 
in with a large railway rug, they saw Bill 
prostrate on the ground, while Clarice stood 
over him, her foot upon his neck. 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 15 

“ He is my prisoner,” she cried. “ Chim- 
po Ching and Chino Chink, the great Mow- 
gli calls upon you to surrender. Give up 
your blunderbusses, and swear to keep the 
peace.” 

“What says our lord and master Hibun- 
gulta?” they asked, their eyes twinkling, 
with fun, their lips twitching, as they tried 
hard to keep grave, and speak in the tone of 
voice suitable for the occasion. 

“ Peace — keep the peace,” stammered 
Hibungulta from the grass. “The great 
Mowgli has invited us to lunch. Biscuits 
and toffee are on our table. Chimpo Ching 
and Chino Chink, we can not refuse such 
dainties.” 

“Assuredly not so,” handing their sticks 
to Clarice, “ here are our blunderbusses, 
most noble Mowgli. We are your knights, 
if you will receive us as such.” 

“ Honor forbids me to accept such a sacri- 
fice,” Mowgli said, solemnly. “The great 
Hibungulta must not be left without his 


16 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

army. But come in,” she took her foot from 
Bill’s neck, “ come in, in all friendship, and 
partake of my dainty lunch.” And with a 
burst of laughter, she led the way under the 
rug. 

“ A truce to all fighting till the inner man 
is regaled,” said Hibungulta, squatting 
cross-legs upon the ground within the wig- 
wam. 

“ So say I,” replied Mowgli. “ Neither 
chieftain nor knight should face a foe when 
hungry and tired. And I am both. That 
difficult and lengthy encounter at ‘ Tiddle- 
dy Winks/ with that most skilful per- 
former, Miss Bunt Maybank, has left me 
weak and prostrate.” 

Bunt blushed to the roots of her hair. 

“Oh, Clarice!” 

The elder girl looked round the wigwam 
with a searching glance; then said with a 
sigh of relief: 

“ The Mowgli was startled. But she sees 
there is no Clarice here. For a moment 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 17 

she feared an invasion of the white men. 
But, come ; eat, pretty creatures, eat. Chim- 
po Ching, Chino Chink, and Hibungulta, 
the most noble Mowgli calls on you to eat.” 
And she handed round large green cabbage 
leaves, upon which were neatly arranged 
biscuits, cakes, and packets of toffee. 

“ May your shadow never grow less, fair 
and wonderful Mowgli,” said Hibungulta, 
his peach-like face all wreathed in smiles. 
“ Peace and plenty, cakes and toffee, are 
more to my taste than war. Let us be 
friends now and forever.” 

“The friendship that comes of cup-board 
love, oh, Hibungulta, is little to my taste 
as a rule, but at present,” with a wave of her 
hand, “peace suits my humor. I too, wish 
to enjoy my cakes and toffee, and so am will- 
ing for a temporary suspension of our fight- 
ing. What say the most noble knights 
Chimpo Ching and Chino Chink?” 

“ We agree. You use big words, Mowgli,” 
said Chimpo Ching, “but I have explained 


18 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

to my young friend, Chino Chink, that 
* temporary suspension ? means stopping for 
a while, and she agrees to do so. Now, 
pass the toffee this way.” 

“ One little word is wanting, Chimpo 
Ching. In wigwam as in battle-field, a noble 
savage must be polite.” 

“ A noble savage polite ! Oh, oh,” 
laughed Chimpo Ching. “ Mowgli, you are 
too funny — quite too funny.” 

“ It’s better to laugh than to cry,” Mowgli 
said with upturned eyes and a merry giggle. 
“ Shall I sing you a little song about that, 
that I once heard a white man sing ? ” 

“ Hear, hear ! A song, Mowgli, a song,” 
they cried, stamping their feet noisily. 

“ Good. I like to please my friendly sav- 
ages,” and raising her sweet little voice, 
Mowgli sang: 

“ A contented mind is a blessing kind, 

And a merry heart is a purse well-lined. 
So what care I, let the world go by, 

For it’s better far to laugh than to cry.” 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 19 

“ That's from 4 La Poupee,' ” cried Chino 
Chink. 44 It's so pretty.” 

44 Hurrah ! ” shouted Bill, 44 you're a first- 
rate singer, Mowgli. But there's not a word 
about politeness in your song that I could 
hear.'' 

44 1 never said there was. But gay and 
well-conducted people, I repeat, whether 
white or black, should be polite. Gay first, 
polite afterwards.” 

“A regular stump orator,” chuckled Bill. 
44 Next time your Uncle Charles Lonergan, 
M.P., is going to speak in Parliament, just 
you give him a wrinkle or two, oh, most 
eloquent Mowgli.” 

44 1 scorn your base insinuations, Hibun- 
gulta,” she answered with a wave of her 
hand. 44 Bow and salaam, Chimpo Ching, 
and say please, and the toffee and cakes are 
at your disposal.” 

44 Most gracious and noble Mowgli, please 
allow me to regale myself with the largest 
cake and finest piece of toffee you possess.” 


20 Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 

“Here they are. Your obedience pleases 
me mightily. An obedient soldier is of more 
value to his chief than even a brave one.” 

“ Ho, ho ! Don’t expect too much, Mow- 
gli,” cried Hibungulta, with laughing eyes. 
“But, hark! What’s that? Methinks I 
hear music. What can it be?” 

“Merry tunes that will make us glad,” 
cried Mowgli. “ Lay aside your war-paint, 
my comrades in arms, and let us away, to 
see whence come these most enchanting 
strains.” 

“We will, Mowgli. To obey you is sweet,” 
cried Chimpo Ching, throwing aside her cap 
and stick. “I’m longing to see what that 
music is.” 

“ Do nothing rash. One last word let me 
whisper in your ears — all,” said Mowgli, 
with upraised hands. “If it is an organ, 
and upon it there should be, oh, Hibungul- 
ta, one of thy more hairy brothers, approach 
him not.” 

“ I like that ! My hairy brothers, indeed ! 


Tiddledy Winks and the Great Mowgli. 21 

Monkeys are as nearly related to you as to 
me.” 

“ Perhaps — ’tis hard to say. But, peace, 
friend, peace. And now, let’s away far 
from our beloved wigwams. In the white 
man’s country we cease to be Mowgli, Chim- 
po Ching, Chino Chink, and Hibungulta, 
and become Clarice, Lucy, and their charm- 
ing and entertaining young friends, Bunt 
and Bill.” 

“ To the front of the house — that’s 
where the music is,” they cried in a chorus, 
and off they ran full of excitement and cu- 
riosity. In this quiet country place a trav- 
eling organ or band was a most unusual oc- 
currence, and always hailed with delight 
when it appeared. But this music was 
softer and sweeter than anything they had 
ever heard, and the children wondered great- 
ly what on earth it could be, as they flew 
over the lawn, and round to the big carriage 
sweep in front of the hall door. 


CHAPTER II. 

“ A LITTLE STROLLING FAIRY." 

As Dr. Maybank watched the children run 
across the beautiful hall, and heard the last 
sounds of their merry voices as they darted 
out into the sunshine, he smiled ; then sighed 
heavily. 

“ How happy they are," he said. “ How 
full of life and fun." 

His wife laughed softly. 

“ Dear things ! You would not have them 
old before their time, J ohn ? " 

“ God forbid. I would keep them young, 
innocent, happy always, if I could. But 
when I see Bunt and Bill merry and full of 
spirits, my mind goes back to the old days, 
when Marion and I were equally gay — with- 
out care or trouble, and loved each other." 

“ Poor J ohn ! I know you often long to 
meet your dear sister again." 

22 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


23 


“Long! I crave, I implore God to allow 
me to find her. She was so brave, so unsel- 
fish — going out to work and struggle in a 
new world to relieve me of the burden of 
keeping her when I was poor, that now that 
I am well off, making a fortune, my one 
great desire is to find Marion and give her 
every happiness possible.” 

“ She knows all about you, I suppose ? ” 
“ I trust so ; but hardly know. For a time 
I wrote everything fully. Then, as you 
know, I did not write at all.” 

“ Yes. And you have made all inquiries ? ” 
“ All. I have put in advertisements. 
Have ” he strode up and down the room, his 
hands behind his back, “ set the police to 
work both in England and America, but 
have failed to find a clue. Living or dead, 
I can hear nothing of my sister.” 

“It is certainly very strange. But she 
may have married, and so changed her 
name.” 

“I have thought of that, and somehow 


24 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


the idea does not help me much. In fact, 
it almost makes me despair of ever finding 
her. Our sweet Bunt ” 

“ Call her Cynthia, John.” He smiled. 

"Bunt suits her best, and comes more 
naturally. Wait till she grows into a state- 
ly young lady, with long skirts, before we 
call her by such a fine name.” 

" Then it will be too late to change, and 
I dislike nicknames.” 

“ ‘ Pet names ’ sounds better. But since you 
wish it, I will say Cynthia. Well, the child 
reminds me strangely of Marion. To-day, 
with her eager, earnest face as she played 
that game, I felt as though it were my sister 
I was watching.” 

“ She is not like her in face, is she ? ” 

" No. But in character she resembles her 
wonderfully. Dear little Bunt ! She will 
never be called upon to leave her home and 
work for her bread in a distant land.” 

"I trust not. But she’d do it as bravely 
as Marion did, I believe.” 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


25 


“ God bless her, yes. And now I must 
go and see Nichols. He hoped to have some 
good news for me to-day.” And he hurried 
away. 

“ Poor John ! ” Mrs. Maybank sighed. 
"You are taking this greatly to heart just 
now. And it is disappointing, certainly. 
But please God you will soon hear news of 
your sister. I have prayed, the children have 
prayed. Our novena to Our Lady of Good 
Counsel is only over to-day. I am full of 
hope.” And taking out her work-basket, 
she settled herself to finish a little frock she 
was making for a poor child. 

Outside, the sun was intensely hot. The 
bees hummed, the butterflies darted hither 
and thither among the flowers, and the birds 
flitted silently from branch to branch, feel- 
ing the atmosphere too heavy for either song 
or roulade. Lulled by the coolness of the 
big, pleasantly shaded hall, and the soft 
stillness of the hot world beyond, Mrs. May- 
bank’s work soon dropped from her fingers, 


26 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


and all unconsciously, she fell to dream- 
ing. 

Fourteen years before, when she had first 
met John Maybank, he was a poor medical 
student. His father and mother were dead, 
his only sister working hard as a governess 
in America. He was quite alone and very 
lonely, till her father made his acquaint- 
ance, and seeing that he was clever and de- 
serving, took him by the hand and helped 
him in every way he could. After this, 
things had gradually improved with him. 
Brilliantly talented, steady, honorable and 
industrious, every one trusted and respected 
him, and he soon began to get on splen- 
didly in his profession. Then had come 
their marriage, the birth of their children, 
and long happy years of happiness and pros- 
perity. From the hour of their engagement 
the number of wealthy patients increased 
daily, and everything went well with them. 
They had a beautiful home, more money 
than they required, and numbers of good 


A Little Strolling Fairy' 


27 


and devoted friends. Had it not been for 
John’s anxiety about his sister, with whom 
he longed to share his happiness and good 
fortune, they would have been without a 
care in the world. 

In the early days of their separation the 
brother and sister had written to each other 
by every mail. But gradually the corre- 
spondence languished. John, moving about 
from place to place, put off answering Mar- 
ion’s letters. Absorbed in his work, he for- 
got to write from week to week, till at last 
he remembered with a shock that he had not 
heard from her for months, and had lost her 
address. So the time passed, and although 
every now and again Dr. Maybank made 
great efforts to discover his sister, for years 
no tidings of her or her whereabouts had 
reached him. Then, apparently reconciled 
to the idea that there was nothing more to 
be done, he seldom mentioned her name, and 
his wife fancied he had forgotten her. But 
of late he had grown restlessly uneasy 


28 


A Little Strolling Fairy' 


again. He upbraided himself for past neg- 
ligence, and had set to work with renewed 
vigor to do all he could think of that would 
be likely to bring her news of him. Still 
his efforts, as we have seen, met with no suc- 
cess, and hardly knowing what further steps 
to take he almost despaired of ever finding 
her. As all this passed through Mrs. May- 
bank’s mind, she sighed, then rebuked her- 
self for doing so. 

“ God is good, and will, I am sure, hear 
our prayers, but all in His own time,” she 
murmured. “We must be patient, and one 
day, perhaps sooner than we imagine, we 
shall hear from Marion.” 

The sound of music, a harmonium softly 
played just outside the open door, startled 
her, and she sprang up from her chair in 
surprise. 

“ Strolling players ! How very odd ! ” 
And she walked over to the door and looked 
out. 

A curious and pretty picture met her eyes, 


A Little Strolling Fairy: 


29 


and she began to wish her husband and 
children were there to see it. 

In a small hand-cart stood a harmonium, 
wreathed and decorated with green leaves 
and bright sun-flowers, and seated at its key- 
board, half hidden by the branching foliage, 
was a tall, slight woman dressed in gray, a 
shady hat upon her dark hair, her face and 
features entirely concealed from view by a 
black velvet mask. 

Very softly her white hands moved over 
the notes, and then in a sweet full voice she 
sang: 

“ I know a green hill far away/’ 

Mrs. Maybank listened in delighted sur- 
prise, and as the last words of the beautiful 
song died away, her eyes were full of tears. 

“It is lovely. Who can she be?” she 
cried. “ How I wish J ohn and the children 
would come in to hear her.” 

As she spoke, she saw the fluttering of 
light frocks among the trees, and in a mo- 


30 


A Little Strolling Fairy: 


ment Clarice, Lucy, and Bunt and Bill 
came flying across the lawn, and seated 
themselves all hot and panting upon the 
doorsteps. 

Upon their appearance, the masked lady 
raised her hands from the ke}'s, then whis- 
pering a few words to a stout, elderly 
woman, who stood near, ran her fingers over 
the notes again, and’ dashed off into a merry, 
rattling dance. 

From behind the cart now stepped forth 
a tiny figure in white muslin, and the chil- 
dren on the steps raised a cry of delight as 
the fairy-like creature drew up her skirts, 
pointed her toes, and holding a gaily be- 
ribboned tambourine high over her head, be- 
gan to trip up and down, and swing herself 
lightly backwards and forwards in time to 
the music. 

“ Oh, what a darling ! ” they cried in a 
chorus. “ She’s an angel or a fairy. I 
never saw such a sprite.” 

“ Seems as if she ought to be on the top 


A Little Strolling Fairy' 


31 


of a Christmas cake,” remarked Bill, “ or in 
a transformation scene at the pantomime. 
Do yon think she’d break, girls, if we 
touched her ? ” 

The girls laughed. 

“ How like a boy,” said Clarice. “ She’s 
not made of either sugar or salt, my dear 
Bill.” 

“ I dare say not. And I’m glad she’s not 
likely to melt away. She does look a nice 
wee thing.” 

And certainly, the little girl made a 
charming picture, her fair cheeks just tinged 
with pink, her golden curls shining in the 
sun, her eyes bright with excitement as she 
flitted up and down, apparently absorbed in 
her dancing, yet watching her admiring au- 
dience upon the steps very closely. 

“That’s enough, darling,” the lady at the 
harmonium said, softly. 

Then the music stopped, and the little 
girl made a low curtsy, and approaching the 
children shyly, held out her tambourine. 


32 


A Little Strolling Fairy : 


" Money ? My patience, I haven’t a far- 
thing,” cried Bill, ransacking his pockets 
and growing very red. " I’m sorry, but — ” 

"Yon buy too many sweets, clove balls, 
and bulls-eyes,” said Clarice, laughing, and 
she dropped sixpence into the tambourine. 
" I’m glad to see Bunt is not such a spend- 
thrift.” 

"Bill’s more generous than I am,” Bunt 
said eagerly. She never could bear to hear 
any one find fault with her beloved brother. 
" He spent all his pocket-money in buying 
a present for mother on her birthday last 
week.” 

" Then I forgive him,” said Clarice, 
grandly. " Lucy, it’s your turn to put some- 
thing into the tambourine.” 

" Kindly mind your own business, Clar- 
ice,” Lucy answered, with a quick blush. " I 
don’t see why you should dictate to us all.” 

" ’Tis my nature to, my dear,” Clarice re- 
plied, good humoredly. " I mean no harm.” 

" You’d better change your nature then,” 


A Little Strolling Fairy: 


33 


Lucy cried, throwing twopence into the tam- 
bourine, “ or you’ll get yourself disliked.” 

“ Order, order,” said Bill, in a deep voice. 
“ Clarice is very useful. We want some one 
to keep us up to our P’s and Q’s. What’s 
your name, little girl ? ” 

“ My name’s Fay ; a little strolling fairy.” 

The children on the steps laughed merrily. 

“You sweet sprite.” Bunt kissed her 
rounded cheek. “Why do you stroll and 
dance ? ” 

Fay hung her head and dug her toes into 
the gravel. 

“To get money,” she said, under her 
breath, and glancing back at the lady at the 
harmonium, “ for papa. He’s ill, and 
mammy’s very poor.” 

“ Do you live near here ? ” 

“No. We’re just passing along. But I 
must go. I’m not,” drawing herself reluc- 
tantly away, “ allowed to talk to strangers — 
much. Only you’re all so nice and only 
children. I like you. Are you all sisters? 


34 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


And is he — •” pointing to Bill, "your bro- 
ther?” 

“ He is my brother,” said Bunt, trying to 
draw the child to her side again. "And 
this is our country home. These two,” glanc- 
ing towards Clarice and Lucy, "are sisters, 
but are only our friends.” 

Fay sighed and looked from Bunt to the 
other little girls with longing eyes. 

" Friends are nice,” she said, sadly, " and 
I often long for some. I used to have plenty 
over the big sea in America. But I have 
none now. You see we are always traveling 
and moving about, and I haven’t time to 
know any little girls as I used to.” 

" Well, you must come often to us and let 
us be your friends now.” 

"I couldn’t. We’ll be going on some- 
where else to-morrow.” 

The lady at the harmonium beckoned to 
the child, saying impatiently, " Come, Fay, 
we must go. Come quickly.” 

But Fay lingered, and as Mrs. Maybank 


A Little Strolling Fairy' 


35 


came out upon the steps, she went forward 
and held up her tambourine. 

Bunt and Bill sprang to meet their 
mother. 

“ Mammy, dear,” Bunt cried, in a voice 
quivering with excitement, “ doesn’t the 
masked lady sing well?” 

“ Beautifully.” 

“ I’m glad you think so. So please give 
this wee thing some money. Her father’s 
ill. And her mother — the lady at the har- 
monium — is very poor.” 

“ I came out to give her something, dear,” 
Mrs. Maybank answered, smiling at the little 
girl’s eagerness. “ The child deserves it. 
She dances beautifully.” 

“Yes. Doesn’t she? And she’s so fun- 
ny,” cried Bill, catching his mother’s hand 
and pressing it lovingly. “ She’s a strolling 
fair}', she says.” 

Mrs. Maybank laughed and stroked the 
fairy’s golden hair, as she slipped half a 
crown into the tambourine. 


36 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


" What is your name, dear ? ” 

"Fay. I mayn’t,” quickly, "say any 
more. Mammy likes to keep it a secret who 
we are. But oh, ” her eyes shining with 
pleasure, "what a lot of money! Thank 
you, thank you — you’re very good. But 
mammy’s calling; I must go.” Then sud- 
denly she threw her arms around Mrs. May- 
bank’s neck and kissed her. " Y ou’re a dear, 
kind lady. Father’ll have a nice, nice tea.” 
And she sprang down the steps and skipped 
gaily across the wide carriage drive to her 
mother’s side. Chattering and laughing she 
hopped up into the little cart. Then the 
elderly woman caught hold of the handles 
again, and wheeled it away, the lady in the 
black mask walking slowly behind. At a 
turn of the drive Fay looked back, and 
waved her hand, then kissed it over and over 
again to the children on the steps. 

" She’s a perfect darling ! ” cried Bunt, 
rapturously. " I do wish she could stay at 
Nightingales with us always.” 


“ A Little Strolling Fairy” 37 

“ Thank you,” said Bill. “ We’ve girls 
enough at Nightingales, now that the Miss 
Lonergans are hanging around.” 

“ Hanging around ! Such a rude expres- 
sion, Bill. We’ll go home at once,” cried 
Clarice, starting to her feet. 

“ No, no.” Bill caught her frock and 
pulled her down upon the steps again. “ I 
apologize. I meant no rudeness. Only I 
do think if that kid had been a boy Pd have 
liked to keep him — her — ” 

“ She wouldn’t have been half so nice or 
graceful if she had been a boy, and not one 
bit of use to you as a companion. She’s not 
much more than five,” replied Clarice, 
“ quite a baby.” 

“ But as old as the hills, and a regular 
mystery,” remarked Lucy, thoughtfully. “ I 
wonder why her mother wears a mask ? ” 

“To hide her face, of course,” laughed 
Bill. 

“ I know that. But why should she wish 
to hide it ? ” 


38 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


"Ask me another,” Bill said, suddenly 
springing up. 

“It's not a riddle,” Bunt said, gravely. 
"And we were only wondering — ” 

" Well, don’t waste your time in such a 
way. It’s her own face and she may hide it 
if she likes.” 

" Of course, foolish boy. Who said she 
might not?” 

" No one. But come along, let’s go back 
to the wigwams,” cried Bill. " I’m tired of 
civilization.” 

The other children laughed, and declared 
that they were quite happy where they were, 
and had enough of being savages for one 
day. 

"And besides,” said Lucy, "here comes 
the pony-carriage. Clarice and I must go 
home, so no more wigwams for us.” 

" What a nuisance ! ” cried Bill, as a pretty 
low phaeton, drawn by a small black pony, 
drove up to the door. "We hadn’t half fin- 
ished our game.” 


" A Little Strolling Fairy” 3d 

“We had, thank you. Come, Clarice, 
say good-by.” And having shaken hands 
with Mrs. Maybank, and kissed Bunt and 
Bill, Lucy sprang into the carriage, and took 
up the reins. “ Ik’s my turn to drive,” she 
said, “and Topsy seems very fresh. So 
don’t keep her standing.” 

But Clarice lingered, saying last words 
upon the steps. 

“ If you don’t come, I’ll go without you,” 
called Lucy. 

At this threat, Clarice laughed, but she 
followed her sister at once into the carriage. 

“ Why didn’t you let her go, Clary, and 
stay here with us ? ” Bill said, capering down 
the steps to the pony’s head. 

“ She knows better,” laughed Lucy. 
“ Clarice does not care for walking. Stand 
back, Bill. We’re off.” 

Bill jumped aside; the groom took his seat 
behind the young ladies, and Topsy started 
off at a brisk pace down the drive. 

“ It’s a nice little turn-out, that, and 


40 


A Little Strolling Fairy.' 


Lucy is rather a good whip,” remarked Bill. 
“ I wish we had one like it, Bunt.” 

“ Wait till we are older. Then father will 
give us one, I know.” 

“I hate waiting. I like things at once.” 

“ Very likely. But it’s not good for us to 
have everything we want.” 

“ How wise you are,” Bill chuckled. 
“ What shall we do now, Miss Wisdom ? ” 

“Let us go to the farm-yard. There are 
six little new black pigs, and I want to see 
them.” 

“ All right,” Bill answered, somewhat 
dolefully. “ Our chief is gone — the wig- 
wams would be lonely. So let us examine 
the tiny pigs.” 

“Who loves me follows me,” cried Bunt, 
and she darted away down a side-path, Bill 
scampering after her as fast as he could go. 


CHAPTER III. 

BUNT HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH FAY. 

By an early train next morning, Dr. and 
Mrs. Maybank went up to London. Bill 
drove into Epsom to see them off. 

Finding herself alone, Bunt went through 
the shrubbery at the back of the house, into 
a little stable that stood by itself among some 
big trees. 

“Poor, dear old Grip,” she cried, throw- 
ing her arms round the neck of a small white 
pony, with large, patient-looking blue e} T es. 
“ How lonely you are ! It must be very sad 
to be blind like you and never get out of this 
gloomy stable.” 

The pony whinnied and rubbed his nose 
against the child’s shoulder. 

“You shall have a treat,” Bunt cried, 
kissing his shaggy coat. “ I’ll lead you into 

41 


42 Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 

the park, and sit on the grass while you en- 
joy the fresh air and a nice feed. If it’s 
good to be kind to people, it must be good to 
be kind to dear animals who can’t speak or 
complain. So I’ll lead you out, old man, 
and we’ll have such a pleasant time.” 

As she talked, Bunt unfastened the rope 
with which Grip was tied up in his stall and 
led him out into the sunshine. The pony 
threw back his head and sniffed the air with 
evident enjoyment, and the little girl laughed 
and patted him softly as they passed along 
into the park together. Grip was a great 
favorite of hers. A year ago she had taken 
a ride upon his broad back every day. But 
when it was found that he was losing his 
sight, she was forbidden to do so any more, 
and he was turned out to grass. Then, as 
he grew quite blind, it was dangerous to let 
him into the park or paddock alone, and the 
poor pony was kept tied up in the stable. This 
pained Bunt’s warm little heart, and so, 
whenever she could, she led him out to enjoy 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


43 


a little air and a good feed of fresh, green 
grass. 

It was a lovely day. The sky was blue and 
clear, and the sun extremely hot, so Bunt 
took shelter under a big haystack and sat 
down, while Grip put his nose to the 
ground, and began to browse in a peaceful, 
happy way that delighted his kind little 
mistress. 

“ Poor old boy,” she murmured, letting 
him go to the full length of the rope, then 
gently drawing him back if he seemed about 
to go too far. “ It must be sad to be blind 
like you and have to stay in your stable all 
day. Bill says you feel it much more when 
you have been out for a while, and are 
obliged to go back again. But I don't think 
so. He likes to have a treat himself some- 
times, and so do I. I am sure you are just 
the same.” 

The little girl started suddenly as some- 
thing moved at the other side of the hay- 
stack. 


44 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


“ What is that, I wonder/ 5 she said, look- 
ing up and listening. “ It sounds like some 
one breathing heavily now. Could there be 
any one there? I think not. And yet — 
come, Grip, we’ll see who and what it is.” 
And she led the pony round the haystack. 

But there was nothing to be seen, and 
Bunt was turning away, thinking she would 
walk Grip to the other side of the park to 
meet Bill as he came back from the station, 
when a sweet little voice called out : 

“Little girl, little girl, I have lost my- 
self. Do please help me to find my home.” 

Bunt uttered a cry of surprise and delight 
as out of a bundle of hay near the stack 
struggled a small figure in a blue cotton 
frock. 

“ Fay,” she cried, recognizing at once the 
pretty child who had charmed them all with 
her dancing the day before. “ What are you 
doing there ? ” 

Fay rubbed her eyes. 

“ I was asleep,” she said. “ I lost my way, 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


45 


and was so tired that I lay down in this nice 
field.” 

“ Field ? ” Bunt laughed gaily. “ It's our 
park.” 

“ Yours ? I thought you lived at that big 
house they call Nightingales.” 

“ So I do. But all round, as far as you 
can see, belongs to papa, and this is his 
park.” 

“ How nice ! My papa is poor, and so ill 
he can not work to get any money.” 

“ That is sad. Will he soon be well ? ” 

Fay’s eyes filled with tears. 

“ Mother hopes and hopes, but Biddy 
says no. He’s not well enough fed, and he’s 
too dull and lonely, she is sure.” 

“ That’s bad. But why is he lonely ? 
Aren’t you all with him ? ” 

"Well, you see, it’s this way. Mother 
must earn money. And to do it she must 
go out with her harmonium, and me and 
Biddy must come to wheel the cart, and then 
he’s left by himself.” 


46 Bunt has an Interview with Fay.- 

“ That does seem bad. Bill and I will go 
and read to him some time,” cried Bnnt, 
“that is,” blushing, “if we may. Where 
are you staying?” 

“In Earl’s Cottage.” 

“ Oh, but isn’t it very small and rather 
untidy there ? ” 

“Yes. But mother says ‘ beggars can’t 
be choosers.’ If father is better to-morrow, 
we’ll go on somewhere else. There’s not 
much money ’round here. Except what you 
and your kind mother gave us we got hardly 
anything yesterday. And that,” sighing, 
“ is very tiring.” 

“ Very.” 

“ And then the church is so far that poor 
father can’t go to Mass.” 

“ Oh ! ” cried Bunt, delighted. “ Are you 
Catholics ? ” 

“Yes. Are you?” 

“ Of course. Every one of us. But it 
does seem very strange that a lady like your 
mother should go about the country wearing 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


47 


a mask and playing a harmonium. Can’t 
she get something better than that ? ” 

“ No. She has tried and tried, but could 
find nothing to do. In America she got 
plenty of money. People there were very 
kind and sorry for her and me.” 

“ Why did she not stay over there ? ” 

“ I don’t know. But I think she came to 
look for somebody she used to be friends with 
here. She never told me so, mind you. But 
I’ve heard her say things to Biddy and dad- 
dy that make me think so. And then she’s 
always praying for some big intention.” 

“ Oh, I wish,” said Bunt, her little face 
puckered up in deep thought, “ we could do 
something to help her.” 

“ I wish you could. But you’re too small. 
It’s only big people, ladies and gentlemen, 
not little boys and girls like you and your 
brother, that can help us.” 

Bunt laughed gaily, and drew Grip back 
towards the hayrick. 

“ You’re very wise. How old are you ? ” 


48 Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 

“ Nearly seven.” 

Bunt gave a gasp of astonishment, and 
looked wonderingly at the fairy-like crea- 
ture. 

“I am surprised. We all thought you 
were only five.” 

Fay smiled, a sad little smile, and sighed. 

“Pm very small, I know. How old are 
you?” 

“ Oh, years older than you ! Fm nine, 
and Bill, my brother, is eleven.” 

“ And you live here always ? ” 

Fay’s eyes wandered admiringly over the 
beautiful park with its fine oaks, big, wide- 
spreading beeches, and shady elms. Then 
back at the comfortable, red-brick, Queen 
Anne mansion, at the pretty stables covered 
with ivy and Virginia creeper. “It’s a 
lovely place.” 

“ Yes. Bill and I like being here. But 
we go up to town in winter. We have a 
house in Harley Street. Our father is a 
great doctor there.” 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


49 


“ Does he cure people ? ” asked Fay, eager- 
ly. " People who are very, very ill ? ” 

"Of course. Everybody says there’s no 
one like him. Nurse declares he brings sick 
people back from the grave.” 

" I wish — ■” Fay clasped her hands to- 
gether, and the bright color rushed over her 
pretty face, " he could cure my daddy.” 

" He could and he would if he were here,” 
said Bunt, with conviction. " But he has 
gone away. A lady sent for him to go to 
her daughter, who is ill, and he’ll be at their 
house for two or three days, perhaps.” 

"What a pity. But then mother says 
we can’t afford good doctors. They cost 
heaps of money.” 

Bunt made no reply. She looked up at 
the sky, her eyes following a lark that was 
soaring above their heads into the vast ex- 
panse of cloudless blue, singing joyfully as 
he went higher and higher, till he almost 
disappeared from view. 

" Father likes to do good,” she said at last, 


50 Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


her eyes coming down to earth again, and 
resting in kind sympathy on the little girl’s 
sad face. “And when he comes home he 
will go and see your father, I am sure, and 
— and ask no money.” 

Fay grew radiant. “Beally? Do you 
think so ? That will be delightful. If dad- 
dy were only strong, things would be quite 
different. He’s an artist, and can paint 
lovely pictures.” 

“ And does he get money for them ? ” 

“ Sometimes. But he can’t paint them 
now. He’s too weak.” 

“Well, father will make him strong. So 
don’t you fret.” 

“But supposing we have to go before he 
comes home? Your father, I mean.” 

“ But you must not.” 

“ If mother wants money, and I know she 
very soon will, we must go if father is able 
to move.” 

“ I wish we could think of some way of 
getting money for her.” 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 


51 


Fay flushed. 

“ She likes to earn for herself — and would 
not like to take any money unless she worked 
for it,” she said, quickly. “ Mother’s very 
proud.” 

“ I am glad she is. I like people who are 
proud — not stuck-up, you know, or proud of 
their looks or dress, but spirited, and liking 
to work for themselves. Father says they 
are always the best.” 

“ Mother was like that all her life. Be- 
fore she married daddy, she taught children 
French, music, and reading. She was a 
governess in New York.” 

“ That was easier than tramping about 
with a harmonium. Why didn’t she go back 
to be a governess ? ” 

“ Because of daddy and me. She couldn’t 
leave us always, and so she made up her mind 
to put on a mask and play and sing through 
the country. It was Biddy’s idea.” 

“ A very funny one. Well, I will talk to 
Bill and to mother when she comes home 


52 Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 

to-morrow, and we’ll see what we can do to 
help your mother.” 

“ That will be good of you. But you are a 
very kind little girl, I think.” 

Bunt laughed gaily. 

“ I’m glad you think so. Come, Grip, you 
must go home, old boy. You see,” turning 
to Fay, “he’s blind, and so I have to lead 
him about. Will you come and look at his 
stable?” 

“ I’m afraid I can’t. I see Biddy running 
across the park to look for me. Good-by. 
I hope I’ll see you soon again.” 

“ Indeed, you shall. And Fay, don’t say 
anything to any one about father going to see 
your daddy. We’ll keep it a secret. Be- 
cause, you see, if he didn’t come home in 
time it would be such a disappointment.” 

“ I won’t say a word, not even to 
mammy,” cried the little girl. “But I do 
hope he’ll come in time.” 

“ So do I, most sincerely,” answered Bunt. 
Then as Fay ran across the grass to meet the 


Bunt has an Interview with Fay. 53 


faithful old Irishwoman, her mother’s de- 
voted servant, friend and confidante, she 
turned away with Grip, and led him back to 
his stable. 


CHAPTER IV. 


" AN ORIGINAL AFFAIR." 

That afternoon Bunt sat upon the sofa 
in the big oak-panelled hall, her long slim 
legs stretched out upon a stool before her. 
In her arms she held a pretty kitten, and as 
she petted and caressed it, the great St. Ber- 
nard dog at her knee looked up at her with 
imploring eyes, and uttered a low growl of 
discontent. 

“ J ealous, Abbess ? For shame ! ” said 
Bunt. “ This poor little kitty has had a bad 
fall — tumbled right down through the ban- 
isters when he was trying to catch his tail. 
He’s only a baby, my pretty Jingo, and must 
be petted now and then. So don’t be jealous, 
sweet Abbess, for I love you best of all.” 

The beautiful creature seemed to under- 
stand every word the child said. A softer 
54 


An Original Affair 


55 


light came into her eyes, and she lifted one 
large heavy paw, and laid it very gently on 
the little girl’s frock. 

“ Yon dear thing.” Bunt kissed her rap- 
turously. “ I know you’ll be kind to Jingo 
and play with him, and,” holding the kitten 
close to the dog’s big nose, “ be a mother to 
him. Now, lick him and make friends.” 

Very obediently, Abbess put out her 
tongue and softly licked the kitten’s back. 

“ Well done, old lady. If little boys and 
girls were as obedient as you are, how pleased 
their fathers and mothers would be.” She 
put the kitten on the floor and laughed gaily, 
as, nothing daunted by the big dog’s formid- 
able appearance the little thing began to play 
fearlessly with her tail. 

“What’s the fun?” asked Bill, running 
in, all hot and breathless. “ I see — Jingo and 
Abbess at play. I’d like to take a snap-shot 
of them like that.” 

“As well try to take a snap-shot of the 
wind,” cried Bunt, as the kitten darted 


56 


An Original Affair 


across the floor and scampered ofl through 
the open door and away over the lawn. 

“ About the same. He’s gone to look for 
birds now.” 

“He’s too small to catch any, I hope. 
That’s one thing I don’t like cats for. They 
are very cruel to those sweet birds.” 

“ It seems so to us. But it’s their natural 
instinct makes them hunt the birds, papa 
says. They don’t mean any harm.” 

“ Perhaps not. But they kill the dear 
things all the same.” 

"Well, we can’t prevent them, so don’t 
look so solemn, old lady. Come along to the 
wigwams. The Lonergans will be here di- 
rectly.” 

“ I don’t want to go there yet. I want to 
talk to you about something, Bill. So sit 
down here.” And she pointed to a seat be- 
side her on the sofa. 

“ Why, you’re as grave as a mustard pot. 
What’s the matter ? ” asked Bill, sitting down 
cross-legs on the rug. “ Sofas were made for 


An Original Affair .' 


57 


grown-ups, not for boys and girls. I like the 
floor best. But why are you so serious ? ” 

" I saw little Fay again this morning.” 

"Dancing like a fairy?” 

" No, sleeping — or rather, waking up from 
sleep near the haystack in the park.” 

Bill opened his blue eyes very wide. 

" What cheek ! A strolling player-dancer 
in our park. Well, to be sure. Did you turn 
her out body and bones ? ” 

" Bill,” indignantly, " indeed, I didn’t. 
I was only too glad to see her.” 

"Of course you were. You like to be 
surrounded with strange things. Blind 
ponies, big dogs, cats, kittens, dancing chil- 
dren—” 

" Bill, Bill.” Bunt laughed and squatted 
herself on the rug beside him. " Do be 
serious for a moment. I want to talk to 
you, and ask your advice.” 

" I am flattered. But I dare say if I gave 
it you’d do something exactly the opposite 
of what I advised.” 


58 


An Original Affair .’ 


“ If I thought you were wrong, yes. But 
still, I want to hear what you think.” 

“ All right. Take me while I’m in the 
humor, for it won’t last long. I may be off 
in a second.” 

Bunt laid her hand upon his shoulder. 

“ No, you won’t, when I tell you it’s about 
Fay. Her father is very ill.” 

“ Oh, has she a father, too ? What is 
he?” 

“ An artist. But too ill to do any work.” 

“ Poor fellow. That’s a pity. You might 
have given him an order to paint Grip and 
Abbess, and though last not least, Jingo.” 

Bunt turned away with a sigh. 

“You always make a joke of everything, 
Bill, and this is very serious. When does 
papa come back ? ” 

“ In four days. Quite the end of the week. 
But,” putting his arms round her, “ sit down, 
Bunt, and tell me what you’re bothering 
about. I promise you I’ll be as solemn as 
a judge, and give the matter my most serious 


An Original Affair.' 


59 


attention. Now,” clearing his throat noisily, 
“ begin, please. Fm ready.” And leaning 
his head against a table near, he folded his 
arms upon his breast. 

“ I wish papa were coming home sooner,” 
said Bunt, sadly. 

“ Well, there’s no use wishing, and Fd ad- 
vise you not to waste your time doing so. 
What do you want him for ? ” 

“ To visit Fay’s father, and see if he can 
do anything to make him strong.” 

“ What’s wrong with him ? ” 

“He’s weak, and can do nothing. Fay 
says her mother can not get him good food; 
she earns so little money.” 

“ That’s bad. But, look here. Why 
shouldn’t we take them a basket of good 
things ? ” 

Bunt clasped her hands in delight. 

“ Oh, Bill, if we could ! But mother’s 
away. That’s one thing I was going to ask 
your advice about. Do you think we might, 
if cook—” 


60 


An Original Affair .’ 


“ Of course we may. Mother always tells 
us to be kind to poor people, and cook will 
do what we tell her. Let us go and see 
what she has got.” 

“ How shall we take it ? ” 

“ In the donkey-carriage. Or better still, 
when the Lonergans arrive we’ll get into 
their pony-trap and make them drive us. 
Where do Fay and her people live ? ” 

"At Earl’s Cottage.” 

“ Oh ! Quite near. That’s nice. Let us 
drive there and bring the kiddy back. She’s 
good fun.” 

“Yes. We’ll bring her to tea, and make 
her play with us in the wigwams. But 
there’s another thing, Bill. The poor mother 
wants to earn money. Can you think of any 
way she can do that ? ” 

“ Not I. It’s easy to give a little soup, 
or money, or meat. But to help people to 
earn money is another thing. Ask Clarice; 
she knows more about women than I do.” 
“You don’t say so?” Bunt laughed, * 


An Original Affair.' 


61 


merrily. " I thought nobody knew anything 
half so well as you, Billy asthore.” 

“ Come, now, no chaff. Pm not quite 
so conceited as to think that. But let us go 
at once, and storm the larder.” 

" Be polite. Bill, please. Cook’s very 
huffy, remember.” 

" Oh, she’ll do anything for me. I have 
only to look pleasant, smile, and, heigh, 
presto ! it’s done.” 

"You’ve a wonderful way with you, ’tis 
true,” the little girl said, gaily. "But take 
care and speak nicely. Come, Abbess, it’s 
time you had your dinner.” And followed 
by the big dog she ran down the back stairs 
after Bill. 

The basement at Nightingales was large 
and roomy. The kitchen was beautifully 
bright with its freshly-tiled walls, shining 
coppers, and snowy-white floor. The cook, 
a short, stout woman with a somewhat rosy 
complexion, looked up in surprise as the chil- 
dren appeared at the door. 


62 


An Original Affair.' 


“Well, to be sure, Master Bill and Miss 
Bunt, what may you be wanting ? ” she asked, 
taking her hands out of a basin of flour. 

“You tell her, Bunt,” Bill said, pushing 
his sister forward. “ Fm no good at expla- 
nations.” For in spite of his boast that cook 
would do anything for him, he began to feel 
horribly shy, and to wish that he had not 
come down to the kitchen. 

“Mrs. Jones, please,” Bunt said, in a 
sweet, imploring voice, “ Bill and I want you 
to help us to be kind to a poor sick gentle- 
man, and send him a basketful of nice 
things. Mamma would allow us to give him 
anything you would think right.” 

“ To be sure she would, miss,” cook an- 
swered, well pleased at the polite way in 
which Bunt acknowledged her power in 
kitchen and larder. “ What do you think he 
would like?” 

Bunt mentioned several things. 

“ And am I to send them, miss.” 

“ No, no ; we’ll take them ourselves, thank 


An Original Affair.' 


63 


you. Could you have them ready in about 
an hour ? ” 

“ Certainly, miss.” 

“ Thank you so much. Bill, come along 
now, and leave cook in peace.” 

But Bill had strolled into the larder, 
where he was regaling himself with some 
beautiful grapes. 

"Those are just the ones I was going to 
send the poor gentleman,” said cook. “ But, 
of course, if you eat them — ” 

Bill dropped the grapes at once. “ I am 
sorry. Please send them, cook. They are 
delicious.” And giving a loud, shrill whistle 
he darted out of the kitchen, and away up a 
flight of steps into the yard. 

“ Bill, please, don’t go so fast,” cried Bunt. 
“ I want to ask you — shall we send a bottle of 
wine ? ” 

But Bill was gone, and the little girl de- 
cided for herself, and told Mrs. Jones to put 
a bottle of port in with the other things, and 
then followed her brother into the yard. 


64 


An Original Affair.' 


Here she found Abbess eating her dinner, 
and she sat down on some steps to watch her. 

“She does enjoy it,” she said, smiling. 
“ Dear old girl, it's a pleasure to see you 
eat.” 

“ So the chickens think,” laughed Bill, who 
was standing near the big dog, his hands in 
his pockets. “ See how they are running in 
this direction. Keep back, my dears, or the 
lady Abbess may turn upon you.” 

“ She wouldn’t,” cried Bunt. “ She’s as 
gentle as a lamb.” 

“Very likely. In fact, I know she is. 
But lambs — no, it’s worms that will turn. 
Now, just look at that one — the one we chris- 
tened the unfortunate Peck. I declare she’s 
right into the plate on top of the dinner.” 

“ It’s a shame. She’s actually eating it. 
Send her away, Bill.” 

“Not I. Abbess can fight her own bat- 
tles. I am dying to see what she will do.” 

Encouraged by the dog’s apparent indiffer- 
ence to her presence in the dish, the chicken, 


An Original Affair.' 


65 


a small, weakly creature, made herself quite 
at home there, and pecked peacefully at all 
the best pieces. For some time Abbess did 
not seem to notice the intruder, and went on 
quietly eating her dinner. But suddenly 
the unfortunate Peck presumed too far, and 
boldly caught hold of a morsel of potato 
just under the dog’s nose. This was too 
much. Without raising her head, Abbess 
made a snap; her teeth met together round 
the chicken’s neck, and the headless body fell 
upon the side of the dish. 

“ Oh, poor Peck ! ” cried Bill. “ You’re 
done for now. Get away, all of you,” clap- 
ping his hands vigorously, “ or you may meet 
with the same fate. Discretion, I assure you, 
is the better part of valor. Away you go.” 
And he chased the chickens and hens here 
and there, all over the yard. 

“ What a row ! ” said Clarice Lonergan, ap- 
pearing suddenly at the gate. “Are you 
trying to catch a hen or two, Bill?” 

“No; only hunting them away. Abbess 


66 


An Original Affair.' 


has just bitten the head off the unfortunate 
Peck.” 

“ Really ? That gentle old lady. I did 
not think she could be so cruel.” 

“ She wasn’t cruel,” cried Bunt, up in 
arms at once in defense of her beautiful pet. 
“ It was Peck’s fault. Abbess did not know 
what she was doing.” 

“ Quite true,” said Bill. “ The little 
wretch deserved her fate. She almost put 
herself into the big dog’s mouth.” 

“Who loves danger shall perish therein,” 
laughed Clarice. “Well, poor Peck’s not 
much loss. She would never have grown fat 
or made a useful hen. And now, my friends, 
I have a piece of news for you.” 

“ Nice news ? ” 

“Very, I think. Lucy and I are en- 
chanted. Mother’s going to give a children’s 
party.” 

“ Oh ! ” Bill’s face fell. “ Is that all ? ” 

“All, Bill?” cried Bunt. “Why, it’s 
lovely.” 


An Original Affair 


67 


“I don’t care for parties. I’d far rather 
play in our wigwams, or go for a ride. Par- 
ties are dull.” 

“ That’s because you didn’t learn how to 
dance,” said Lucy, poking her head in over 
her sister’s shoulder. “But you’ll like this 
party. It’s to be a very original affair.” 

Bill opened the gate and he and Bunt 
went out of the farm-yard, and strolled 
round to the front of the house with their 
visitors. 

“What kind of a party is an ‘ original 
affair,’ Clarice ? ” asked Bunt. 

Clarice laughed and put her arm round 
her little friend. 

“ A party just a tiny bit out of the com- 
mon, and that, I think, ours will be. Mam- 
ma has made up her mind to have fifty-two 
children, the number of cards in a pack, you 
know, all dressed like cards. One is to be 
the Queen of Hearts — you, I should think, 
Bunt. Another the Queen of Clubs. 
Another the Knave of Diamonds, and so on. 


68 


An Original Affair.' 


I think it will be very pretty. We’ll all walk 
at the beginning, in procession, and then 
dance quadrilles and lancers.” 

“ I’ll be the Knave of Hearts,” cried Bill, 
tumbling head over heels upon the grass. 
“ I’ll steal the tarts and run away, and then 
I shan’t have to dance.” 

“ Now, don’t be a silly Billy,” said Lucy, 
sharply. “ We can’t have any nonsense like 
that. We want all the boys and girls we 
know to play their parts well. As it is, 
we’re short of one, and don’t know what to 
do.” 

Bill walked up to Clarice and stood quite 
still before her. 

“ I can find you a delicious Queen of 
Hearts or Diamonds. And if you’ll have 
her, I’ll practice hard, and dance till I can’t 
stand at your party.” 

The girls laughed merrily. 

“ What a splendid promise. Who is your 
charming friend?” 

“ The little girl Fay.” 


An Original Affair.' 


69 


“ The sprite who danced here yesterday ? ” 
said Clarice. “ But she’s a baby/’ 

“ She’s nearly seven — and dances like a 
fairy. Have her, Clarice. She’ll look love- 
ly as a queen.” 

Clarice looked doubtful, but made no re- 

piy- 

“We don’t know her,” remarked Lucy. 
“Neither does mamma.” 

“ Oh, that doesn’t matter. Bunt knows 
her, and I tell you what, we’re going 
to take some things to her father, who’s 
ill,” said Bill. “ Do have her. She’d be the 
nicest thing at your party. Wouldn’t she. 
Bunt?” 

“Yes,” thoughtfully. “I really think 
she would. But then she may be gone. As 
soon as her father is well enough, she and 
her mother are going away to play and 
dance and make money in new places.” 

“ The mother plays well,” said Clarice. 
“ And seems quite a lady.” 

“ She is a lady,” cried Bunt, her cheeks 


70 


“ An Original Affair.' 


growing red, her eyes shining with excite- 
ment. “And, oh, Clarice, I have such a 
good idea.” 

“ Hurrah ! ” shouted Bill. “ How splen- 
did. Bunt with an idea — what fun ! ” And 
he turned a Catherine wheel upon the grass. 

“What is it, dear?” said Lucy. “Don’t 
mind that silly boy. Bill, I’m ashamed of 
you.” 

“ Most gracious Chino Chink,” bowing 
and pulling the lock of curly hair that lay 
upon his forehead, “ forgive me.” 

“ I’m not Chino Chink at present, and our 
conversation is quite serious. What is your 
idea. Bunt?” 

The little girl looked at Clarice shyly, and 
then at Lucy. 

“Perhaps,” she said, blushing, “I ought 
not to ask you. But I am longing to help 
this poor lady, Fay’s mother, to earn some 
money. Mrs. Lonergan will want some one 
to play at the party, and she will pay well. 
So—” 


An Original Affair 


71 


Clarice clapped her hands and pirouetted 
lightly up and down. 

“ Capital l You dear, good, thoughtful 
mite. Why, it’s the very thing. That lady 
played lovely waltzes, and mamma was just 
wondering who she could get to play for us. 
But I suppose she will come without a 
mask ? ” 

The children laughed. 

"Of course. A masked lady at the piano 
would be too funny,” said Lucy. "We 
could not allow it.” 

"It’s to be an original affair,” cried Bill. 
" So what matter ? A masked lady at the 
piano would just be a little bit out of the 
common. Eh ? ” 

"You impertinent boy, how dare you 
make fun of our party ? ” cried Lucy, making 
a dive across as though to box his ears. 
" Fll punish you well.” 

"If you can catch me — yes,” cried Bill, 
darting across the lawn. "But girls can’t 
run.” 


72 


An Original Affair .’ 


“ Can’t they ? You’ll see ! ” And Lucy 
fled away after him. 

“Now that those two noisy youngsters 
have departed, let us talk the matter out 
quietly together,” said Clarice, and she drew 
Bunt down upon a seat under a big shady 
tree. “You are very anxious to help this 
lady, dear?” 

“ Oh, very. I had a long talk with little 
Fay this morning in the park, and I feel so 
sorry for her and her mother. Her father 
is ill, and I am going to coax papa to go and 
see him, and make him well, when he comes 
home.” 

Clarice smiled and patted Bunt’s cheek. 
The child’s faith in her father’s power to 
cure all ailments always amused her, but 
she liked her the better for it. 

“Will Dr. Maybank be away long?” 

“ Till the end of the week. Bill says.” 

“ And you want to help her to earn money ? 
Might we not send her some ? ” 

“ No. Fay says she likes to earn it. So 


An Original Affair.' 


73 


do have her to play at your party, Clarice, 
won’t you ? ” 

“ Mother must decide that. I’ll tell her 
about her. But you see she has never 
heard her, and she will not be likely to trust 
to her to play at her party, unless some 
grown person could tell her she played really 
well.” 

“Mamma heard her.” Bunt clapped her 
hands. “ Mamma will do that. How much 
will you pay her. Clary ? ” 

Clarice laughed and pinched the child’s 
cheek. 

“You go too fast, little one. I hardly 
know what mamma would pay. A couple of 
guineas, perhaps.” 

“ How lovely ! Ah, there is Fred. Well, 
Fred,” to a spruce young footman who came 
out of the house at that moment, “what is 
it ? Do you want me ? ” 

“Yes, miss. Cook says the hamper is 
ready.” 

“How nice,” jumping up. “But, Clar- 


74 


An Original Affair 


ice, will you be an angel and drive me and 
my basket down to EarPs Cottage? Cook 
has put up some things for the sick man, 
Fay's father, and I want to take them to 
him at once." 

“You good, kind little soul; of course I 
will. And," kissing her, “ you may be quite 
sure that if I can, I’ll get mamma to engage 
the masked lady to play at our dance." 

Bunt turned, and threw her arms round 
her neck. 

“ You are so good. Thank you so much." 

“What a sweet picture," laughed Bill, 
running back to the two girls, Lucy still in 
pursuit. 

“ Pak-pak," he cried, holding up his 
hand. “ Let us keep still now, Lucy, and 
hear what these two wise heads have de- 
cided." 

“We’re going off in the pony-trap with the 
hamper," said Bunt. “ Will you come ? ’’ 

“ No. You and Clarice will be enough to 
go," said Bill. “Lucy and I will stay be- 


An Original Affair.' 


75 


hind and tidy np the wigwams. We’ll have 
afternoon tea in Mowgli’s. So mind you 
bring Fay back to take part in our festivi- 
ties.” 

“If we can,” cried Bunt, gaily, and she 
ran into the house to get her hat. 

A moment later the pretty little phaeton 
drove round to the door again, a good sized 
hamper tied on behind. 

“ This is lovely,” Bunt cried, as she seated 
herself beside Clarice. “ Au revoir, you two,” 
waving her hand. “ We’ll be back very soon.” 

“ And don’t attempt to show yourselves 
without Fay,” cried Bill. 

“ Well, I declare,” laughed Clarice. 
“ That’s going a little too far. However, 
we’ll do our best to bring her back with us.” 
And touching the pony lightly with the whip, 
she drove away. 


CHAPTER V. 


A THUNDERSTORM AND WHAT IT BROUGHT 

In a poor but clean little cottage by the 
roadside, a pale, sad-faced man lay upon a 
couch, looking wistfully at a half-finished 
picture that stood on an easel by his side. 

“ If I could finish it,” he murmured. 
“ Biddy might take it to London and sell it 
for me, if only for a few shillings. They 
would be so useful.” 

The door opened softly, and Fay stole in 
on tiptoe. 

“ Little one,” he said, “ where is your 
mother ? ” 

Fay laid her cheek against his. 

“ Out, daddy, dear. She went into Ep- 
som to get some meat to make beef-tea.” 

“ Poor soul. IPs a long walk there and 
back.” 


76 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 77 

“ Very. And,” sighing, “ very hot. I wish 
I were big enough to go and get things for 
mammy. But I'm not, and so I have to stay 
at home.” 

“ And look after your worthless old dad- 
dy?” 

The child kissed him lovingly. 

“ Don't say that, daddy. It hurts. 
You're a dear, clever daddy, if you were only 
strong. And it's not your fault that you're 
weak and ill. God made you so.” 

“ And we must submit to God's will. I 
know, my pet, and I try not to complain. 
But I'd give worlds, if I had them, to be well 
again.” 

Fay's face grew suddenly bright and she 
smiled radiantly. 

“ And so you shall be, daddy, dear. I 
heard to-day of a great doctor who cures 
every one ; brings people back from the grave, 
they say. And he will — I feel he will cure 
you.” 

Her father smiled sadly, and stroked her 


78 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

golden curls with his white transparent 
hand. 

“Who is he, little Fay, and how did you 
hear of him ? ” 

Fay looked at her father, her blue eyes 
full of confidence. 

“ I don't know his name. But his daugh- 
ter, a dear little girl called Bunt, said that 
he was a great man, and brought people back 
from the grave.” 

The sick man lay back laughing upon his 
pillow. 

“You funny child. Where did you see 
Miss Bunt?” 

“ She’s the little girl at Nightingales, the 
big house where they gave mother and me so 
much money, when we danced and played 
there the other day. I met her in her park 
this morning, and told her you were ill.” 

“ And she said her father was a great doc- 
tor? Well, perhaps he is, little Fay. But 
big doctors want big fees, and you know how 
very poor your mammy and I are.” 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 79 

“ Yes, but,” began Fay, then stopped 
short, blushing suddenly rosy red, as she re- 
membered her promise to keep the idea of 
Dr. Maybank visiting her father for nothing 
a secret. 

“Well? But what?” 

“ Don’t ask me please, papa,” clasping and 
unclasping her hands nervously. “ It’s a 
secret what Bunt said, and — ” 

“ Oh ! very well. I won’t ask you to tell 
it to me. I like to find people able to keep 
a secret.” 

“I’d love to tell you.” Fay twisted the 
corner of her pinafore into a knot. “Per- 
haps, if I just whispered it — •” 

“ No, no. If you promised, keep your 
word. Never forget that, Fay. If you make 
a promise, big or little, you must keep it.” 

“Yes, papa. And, perhaps, oh, perhaps 
Bunt’s father’s very clever. Do you think 
it’s likely?” 

“ I think it’s quite likely. But not know- 
ing him, I can’t say for certain.” 


80 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

“ You’ll know him some day, I am sure of 
that.” 

"I don’t think so. But, Fay, I’m going 
to do a little painting.” 

“ Oh, papa, it will tire you too much.” 

“ Not if you prop me up and get me every- 
thing I want.” 

"I’ll do that,” cried Fay. And she flew 
about the room collecting paints, brushes, 
and palette. 

“ Change your frock, my pretty dancer, 
and I’ll try to finish my picture.” 

“ Yes, papa.” And she ran into the next 
room. 

In a few moments she came back in a soft 
lace frock, a wreath of poppies on her head, 
a few bright blossoms in her hand. 

Her father raised himself, and having 
propped him up with pillows, she threw her- 
self into a graceful attitude at the foot of 
the couch. 

"A little more to that side,” he said, 
breathing with difficulty. "Your head up 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 81 

— your toe out. That will do.” He looked 
at her critically, and took up his palette and 
brushes. 

But the exertion was too much for him, and 
he grew suddenly white as marble. The 
palette fell from his fingers and he fainted. 

Terrified, Fay flung down her flowers and 
rushed to the door, calling loudly for Biddy. 

The faithful servant came running up, 
and telling the child not to be frightened, 
bathed her master’s face and hands with eau 
de Cologne and water. 

He opened his eyes, sighed heavily, and 
then smiled. 

“ It — it is nothing, Biddy. I — I at- 
tempted too much. I’ll sleep now.” And 
he turned his head away from the light. 
“ Send Fay out into the fields.” 

“Yes, sir,” the woman answered, and she 
glanced across at the little girl, who stood 
watching her father with anxious eyes. 
“ Run out, dear,” she whispered. “ I’ll stay 
with him now.” 


82 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought . 

“ Is he better ? Really better ? ” 

“Yes, yes. See, he has gone to sleep 
already,” said Biddy, reassuringly. “ Change 
your frock and go out.” 

“ Til go down the road to meet mother.” 

“Very well. But don’t walk too far. It 
is very warm.” 

Fay nodded her head. 

“ Very. Poor mammy, how tired she will 
be.” And she slipped quietly away. 

As the child left the cottage some ten 
minutes later, the sky which had been so 
brilliantly bright, grew suddenly black. 
Ominous looking clouds hung very low over 
the Downs, and had Fay been a little older 
and a little wiser, she would have seen that 
the day was changing, and that before very 
long there would be a thunderstorm. But 
being neither weather-wise nor observant, 
Fay failed to see any warning in the sky, 
and set off at a brisk pace down the hilly 
road. 

“I’d give anything to know that that 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 83 

great man, Bunt’s father, was home, and 
that he was coming to visit poor daddy,” she 
thought as she ran along. “ He’s iller than 
he used to be, and it makes him so sad and 
sorry.” 

A low rumbling noise in the distance 
startled the child, and she looked round her 
in alarm. Then came a vivid flash of light- 
ning, and the rain began to fall suddenly 
in immense drops, which soon settled into a 
thick, steady downpour. In an instant 
Fay’s thin cotton frock was soaked through, 
and her feet and legs and hair streamed with 
water. 

“ Oh, dear, how miserable ! What shall 
I do?” she cried, trembling with terror. 
“ Holy Mother, take care of me,” clasping 
her hands. “ My dear angel guardian, keep 
close to me. I can’t go on now. And it’s 
a long way back in such rain. Yet where 
can I shelter? Ah, it looks nice and dry in 
there. So I’ll creep in and wait till the 
storm passes.” And she slipped down a 


84 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

grassy bank and seated herself in a little 
hollow place in a green hedge over which 
spread the wide branches of a patriarchal 
beech tree. 

“ The rain must stop soon,” she thought, 
peeping out at the sky. “ I see a piece of 
blue.” 

But the blue disappeared. The thunder 
grew louder and louder, and the rain came 
splashing down harder and faster than ever. 
Presently, the sound of horses’ feet and 
carriage wheels were heard on the road, and 
forgetting the wet and the mud in her 
anxiety to see who was coming, Fay ven- 
tured out of her hiding-place and scrambled 
up the bank. 

She looked a forlorn and miserable little 
figure, as she stood in her wet clinging frock, 
and dripping hat and hair. 

“ Bunt ! ” she cried, as the pony-trap drove 
along, and she saw Clarice and her kind little 
friend Bunt, seated in it together under a 
huge umbrella, a big rug covering their feet 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 85 


and legs. “ Oh, please stop and speak to 
me. I’m so miserable.” 

The children uttered loud exclamations of 
pity and dismay and drew up quickly. 

“ Is that you, Fay ? ” they cried, in a 
breath. “ Poor child — you are drowned. 
We came expressly to look for you. So, 
jump in.” 

“ Please, I’m very wet, and dirty. I don’t 
think I ought to.” 

“ Nonsense,” said Clarice. “ Bob,” to the 
groom, “roll that shawl round the child, 
very tightly, and put her in here on the front 
seat.” 

As the groom sprang down from his perch 
behind his young mistress Fay drew back. 

“ I can walk home, thanks. I think I’d 
better — really.” 

“No, no. Come with us,” cried Bunt. 
“Maplewood is quite close.” 

“ But my father will be anxious — besides, 
I am dripping.” 

“You must come with us, Fay,” Clarice 


86 A Thunderstorm, and what it Brought. 

said, firmly. “ Biddy told us you might. 
Your father is fast asleep and the cottage 
must be kept quiet. We went there to leave 
a hamper (Bunt’s present), and Biddy was 
wringing her hands over you. She said if 
we found you near Maplewood we were to 
take you there. So come along. It’s my 
home, you know.” 

“ But my frock — my shoes. See, the rain 
is streaming from them, and my feet are so 
muddy.” 

“ Never mind. We have plenty of frocks 
and shoes at our house. Lots of things that 
Lucy used to wear when she was small. So 
come along. Your mother or Biddy will 
come for you when the storm is over.” 

After this Fay resisted no longer, and al- 
lowed Bob to roll her up in the shawl and 
place her on the front seat of the pony-trap. 

“ That is splendid,” cried Clarice. “ You 
won’t get cold or wet us like that. We’ll 
soon get home.” And she sent the pony on 
at a rattling pace down the road. 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 87 

“ Steady, Clarice,” laughed Bunt. “ Top- 
sy’s going like the wind. We are bumping 
over the stones so much that I can hardly 
hold the umbrella over you.” 

“ I want to get this child into dry things 
as soon as possible. So never mind about 
the umbrella.” 

“ I do hope Fay’s mother will come for 
her,” Bunt said, as the pony-trap turned in 
at the Maplewood gates. “ It will be a 
splendid way to get your mother to engage 
her for the party.” 

“ First-rate. Thanks to the thunderstorm 
everything has been arranged for us. When 
mother hears her play, she will, I am sure, be 
delighted, and engage her at once.” 

“That will be lovely. If father would 
come home now I would be quite content.” 

As the children entered the hall at Maple- 
wood, Mrs. Lonergan came hurrying out of 
the drawing-room to meet them. 

“ My dear,” she began, then paused 
abruptly, looking at Bunt and Fay in aston- 


88 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

ishment. " Good morning/’ kissing Bunt. 
"But where is Lucy? And who in the 
world, Clarice, is this little wet morsel of 
humanity ? ” 

"Lucy stayed with Bill,” Clarice said. 
" And this is a little girl we,” laughing, 
"picked up by the roadside.” And then 
with some difficulty and at great length she 
explained who and what Fay was and their 
reasons for bringing her home. 

" An interesting story, dear,” Mrs. Loner- 
gan said. " But now take the child upstairs 
and see what nurse can find for her to wear. 
She must have something dry to put on at 
once. When she is dressed come down to 
the drawing-room, and we’ll talk the matter 
over. I am glad you are in out of that rain. 
I was beginning to be very uneasy. I sup- 
pose Lucy will stay at Nightingales till it is 
all over.” 

" Oh, yes. I’ll drive back for her and 
take Bunt home after tea. Lucy is always 
happy with Bill. But come, Fay, you must 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 89 

get off your wet frock.” And she hurried 
the child upstairs to the room that had once 
been the nursery. 

Here sat the old nurse whom Lucy and 
Clarice loved very dearly, working indus- 
triously. As the little girls entered she 
threw up her hands with a cry of horror. 

"Miss Clarice, how could you bring such 
a dripping little creature over your mam- 
ma’s good carpets?” 

“ Oh, never mind the carpets, nurse. 
They have not suffered. But this darling 
may, if you don’t find her some dry clothes, 
right away.” 

“ So she may, so she may,” said nurse, 
standing up quickly. “ But we’ll soon find 
her something.” And she began to ransack 
the drawers and wardrobes. 

Clarice and Bunt hovered round Fay. 
They dried and brushed her hair, took off her 
wet shoes and stockings, and tried on every 
garment she required with the greatest care, 
rejecting as unsuitable everything that did 


90 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

not fit exactly, or did not strike them as 
pretty enough. 

“ It’s like dressing a doll,” laughed Bunt. 
“ You are a fairy for your age, Fay.” 

“ Her name suits her perfectly,” Clarice 
cried gaily, turning the child round to make 
her look at herself in a long glass. “Lucy 
wore that frock when she was five. Aren’t 
you ashamed of yourself ? ” 

Fay threw back her golden head and stood 
up on her toes. 

“ Hot one bit, Miss Lonergan. ‘ Good 
goods are made up in small parcels/ daddy 
says, and if I were big, people wouldn’t think 
so much of my dancing. So you see I 
don’t mind.” 

Clarice laughed merrily, and nurse looked 
at the child with wondering eyes. 

“If you’re small,” she said, nodding her 
head, “ you make up for it in sense. If you 
and Miss Lucy were like her. Miss Clarice, 
we’d have a quiet house.” 

“How, you wouldn’t like it, nurse, you 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 91 


know you wouldn't,” cried Clarice. “But 

i 

who's coming upstairs like that? Lucy's 
away, and — ■" 

The door opened noisily, and Lucy and 
Bill bounded into the room. 

“What are you doing?'' they cried 
together. 

“ Changing Fay's things,'' said Bunt. 
“ Doesn't she look nice, Lucy ? " 

“ Sweet. But you have been an age. 
Mother says you have been up here nearly 
three hours.'' 

“ Oh, surely not,'' Clarice laughed. “ And 
how did you get here ? " 

“ Mrs. Maybank came back from town and 
sent us on in the carriage. It is to wait and 
take Bunt and Bill home when they are 
ready.'' 

“ I was so glad to come,'' said Bill. “ The 
wigwams were dripping, and there was noth- 
ing to do at Nightingales.'' 

“ Is the storm over, then ? '' asked Bunt. 

“Hours ago,'' answered Lucy. “But 


92 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

come down. Mrs. Lyons, Fay’s mother, is 
here. She is playing to mother, and wants 
Fay to dance for her.” 

Bunt clapped her hands, and Clarice said 
joyfully, “What good news! It’s all right 
now, I’m sure, Bunt. Let us run down and 
see.” 

“ Come, Fay,” Lucy cried. “ You must 
put your best foot foremost, remember.” 

“ What does that mean ? ” asked the child, 
her blue eyes opening very wide. 

“Dance your best. Like this,” said Bill, 
shuffling his feet about, and turning round 
cracking his fingers and shouting. “ That’s 
the sort of thing, you know.” 

“ Most graceful,” cried Bunt, laughing. 
“ Fay knows better than that, my boy.” 

Fay imitated Bill, and began to sing in a 
sweet, clear voice: 

“ He can dance like a fairy 
And sing like a bird, 

He can, ’pon my word.” 

“ You mock me,” cried Bill, in gruff tones. 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 93 

“You small atom of humanity, how dare 
you ? I'll make you pay for this.” And he 
sprang toward her. Fay dodged him and 
ran round the table. A chase ensued, in 
which the others joined, and soon the nur- 
sery rang with their merry shouts and 
laughter. 

“ And now, my children,” cried Lucy, 
springing up on a chair, “ peace. We must 
go downstairs. This battle must be con- 
sidered at an end for the present. The 
next time we meet it can be renewed and de- 
cided. Come.” And jumping to the ground 
she caught Fay’s hand and led her away. 

In the drawing-room they found Mrs. Ly- 
ons at the piano, and Mrs. Lonergan listen- 
ing to her playing with evident delight. 

Fay sprang to her mother’s side, and tak- 
ing her fingers off the keys, Mrs. Lyons bent 
and kissed her. 

The other children stood by in silence, 
looking at Fay’s mother with considerable 
curiosity. She was a fair, gentle woman, with 


94 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

rather a sad expression and a very sweet 
smile. She was a complete stranger to them 
all, yet there was something familiar about 
her that puzzled them. 

“ She’s like some one I know/’ whispered 
Bunt to Clarice. 

“ Yes. She certainly has a look I seem to 
know.” 

“I’ll tell you who she reminds me of,” 
said Bill. “ You’ll laugh, I am sure. But she 
is like father.” 

“ What an idea ! You are silly, Bill.” 

“ Hush ! ” murmured Lucy. 

Mrs. Lyons rose from the music-stool and 
came forward with outstretched hand to 
greet the children. 

“You have been exceedingly kind to my 
little Fay,” she said. “ And I am very grate- 
ful. She is most fortunate to have found 
such good friends.” 

“We like her so much,” said Clarice. 
“ You will let her come here often, Mrs. Ly- 
ons, I hope?” 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 95 

“ If we stay in the neighborhood, certain- 
ly. But we are like gipsies, and are never 
long in one place.” 

“But if you got employment here,” said 
Mrs. Lonergan, coming forward, “ you would 
stay, I suppose?” 

“ Oh, yes.” Her color rose a little. 
“But who will give me that?” 

“I would be glad if you would give my 
daughters music lessons, and I am sure Mrs. 
Maybank would like Bunt and Bill to have 
some, too.” 

Mrs. Lyons flushed, then turned pale. 

“Maybank?” she said in a trembling 
voice. “ Did you say Maybank ? ” 

“ Yes. This is Miss Bunt and Master Bill 
Maybank. It was at their house my chil- 
dren first saw you and little Fay.” 

“ At the beautiful place they called Night- 
ingales ? ” 

“Yes. That is Dr. Maybank’s country 
house.” 

“ Oh, it could not be, of course,” Mrs. 


96 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

Lyons told herself. “ I am dreaming. It is 
an uncommon name, but in England there 
must be many Maybanks. The poor fellow 
could never have risen to live in a place like 
that.” To Mrs. Lonergan she said : 

“ I will give your children lessons with 
pleasure, and if you can persuade Mrs. May- 
bank to allow me to teach these dear little 
ones, I would be most grateful.” 

“ She will be easily persuaded, I am sure. 
Don’t you think so, Bunt ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, I am sure she will.” 

“You dear little girl.” Mrs. Lyons had 
tears in her eyes and voice. “ It will be a 
joy to teach you. And now I must thank 
you for the beautiful hamper of good things 
which I found at the cottage just now, 
labelled ‘ with Bunt’s love.’ You have a 
warm heart, child. God bless you.” 

Bunt stroked the lady’s hand in silence, 
and she looked so shy and tearful that Mrs. 
Lonergan thought it wise to change the con- 
versation. 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 97 

"And now, Mrs. Lyons,” she said, "I 
want you to do me a great favor.” 

Bunt smiled radiantly, and the other chil- 
dren nudged one another, exchanging quick 
looks of pleasure, and gathered closely 
round their mother and her visitor. 

“ I will do anything you wish, if I can.” 

“ Thank you. I think you will easily do 
what I am going to suggest.” Mrs. Lonergan 
smiled. “You will not find it difficult, I 
am sure. It is simply to teach these chil- 
dren and some of their friends to dance 
lancers and quadrilles.” 

“That I can easily do and it will be a 
pleasant task.” 

“ My idea is to give a party for children. 
Something a little out of the common.” 

Bill looked at Lucy and giggled. 

“Hush!” whispered Bunt. “Fm 
ashamed of you, sir.” 

“I’m glad you seem pleased, Bill,” said 
Mrs. Lonergan, “ and you must do your best 
to dance well.” 


98 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 


The little girls laughed and Bill grew very 
red. 

“ Fll do my best, Mrs. Lonergan,” he said. 
“ But I don’t know how to dance.” 

“You must learn. You see, Mrs. Lyons, 
I want to have it a kind of fancy-dress ball 
for a small number, and thought of dressing 
the young people as a pack of cards.” 

“.A pretty idea.” 

"I think it is. There are just fifty-one 
children round the neighborhood who would 
come.” 

“ And you want fifty-two ? ” 

“ Yes. But, perhaps, one short would not 
matter.” 

“ Have Fay,” said Bill. “ Make her 
Queen of Hearts, and I’ll be the King.” 

Mrs. Lonergan laughed heartily. 

“May we have her, Mrs. Lyons? I’ll 
have her dress made with the children’s. So 
please let her be the Queen of Hearts.” 

“ Oh, do, mammy, please, please,” begged 
Fay, her eyes dancing with delight. "It 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 99 

would be lovely, and some day when daddy’s 
well enough he’ll paint me and Bill to- 
gether.” 

This idea tickled the children, and they 
burst into a peal of merry laughter. 

"Fancy Bill in a picture,” cried Clarice, 
pulling his ear softly. " On his knees before 
the Queen, I suppose.” 

" And a charming picture, too,” cried Mrs. 
Lonergan. "Don’t tease him, Clary, it’s 
not fair. Is,” turning to Mrs. Lyons, " your 
husband an artist, then?” 

" Yes. But unfortunately he is too ill to 
do his work. We were on the verge of star- 
vation, Mrs. Lonergan, when I hit upon the 
plan of going out to sing in the streets. I 
put on a mask that people should not know 
me, and also because I felt less shy of observa- 
tion when my face was hidden. In America 
I got on well. But I have done rather badly 
over here.” 

" Why did you come to England ? ” 

" In hopes of finding some of my relatives 

LOFC. 


100 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

who might help me. I had a brother living 
in London, and I was anxious to find him.” 

“ And have you done so ? ” 

“ No. But I have not had time or money 
to spend in looking for him yet. Fm afraid 
the poor fellow is not much better off than 
we are ourselves.” 

“ Still it would be a happiness to meet 
him.” 

“ The greatest I can imagine.” 

“ Then I trust you may find him soon.” 

“ I pray that I may, day and night.” 

“ Then you have only to be patient. God 
will surely hear your prayer. And now you 
must stay in this neighborhood for the pres- 
ent. Teach the children to dance, and play 
for us on the night of the party. Will you 
do this ? ” 

Mrs. Lyons was overcome with emotion, 
and her voice was low and full of tears as she 
answered : 

“ God bless you. I will, indeed. Your 
kindness has given me hope and saved me 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 101 

from despair. My husband is too ill to move 
on, and there is no chance of my making 
money on these quiet country roads. So you 
may imagine how full of gratitude my heart 
is this moment — so full that I can not tell 
you what I feel.” 

“ Pray don’t try. But little Bunt here is 
the person you should thank. She,” draw- 
ing the child to her side, “has a kind and 
charitable heart, and having fallen in love 
with your sweet Fay, resolved to help you if 
she could. Isn’t that so. Bunt ? ” 

Bunt blushed to the eyes, and threw her 
arm round Fay’s neck. 

“ She’s such a darling, Mrs. Lonergan,” 
she said. “We all want to be kind to her. 
Don’t we ? ” turning to the other children. 
“ Every one of us ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed, we do,” they cried together. 

“ But we could not have done much with- 
out you, mamma,” said Clarice. 

“No,” Bunt laughed. “As Fay told me 
this morning, ‘ it’s only big people can help 


102 A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 

us, not a little boy and girl like you and 
your brother/ ” 

“When little boys and girls are kind, 
thoughtful and unselfish, they can do a great 
deal,” Mrs. Lonergan said, kissing her. 

“ Indeed they can,” Mrs. Lyons cried. 
“ For even a kind word or look from a child 
gives pleasure and consolation to those in 
sorrow and misery. So dear little ones, try 
to be always gentle and kind to the poor — •” 
Her voice broke, and she turned away weep- 
ing. 

“We will,” the children said, their eyes 
full of sympathy. “We will, indeed.” 

Mrs. Lonergan took Mrs. Lyons by the 
hand and led her to an easy chair near the 
open window. Then turning to the children 
she said : 

“Run away to the school-room now and 
get your tea. Mrs. Lyons and I will have 
ours here together and talk over the ar- 
rangements for our party. I want to have 
it as soon as possible, as the Windhams are 


A Thunderstorm and what it Brought. 103 

going abroad. Clarice, dear, see that yonr 
friends get a nice tea.” 

"Yes, mamma,” the little girl replied. 
“Fll see to that. Come, Fay. Fve got 
many pretty things to show yon.” 

Then with sad, compassionate glances at 
the weeping lady near the window, the chil- 
dren filed out, and went slowly away to the 
school-room. 


CHAPTER VI. 

BUNT AND BILL WRITE A LETTER. 

“It's all very well to be kind to pretty 
Fay, and to help her mother to earn some 
money/’ said Bill. “ But I’d like to hear of 
something being done for the poor father.” 

“It’s a doctor he wants.” Bunt nodded 
her head wisely. “The very best doctor in 
the world.” 

“ Father ! ” Bill cried, delighted. “ There’s 
no one like him. Oh, why doesn’t he come 
home ? ” 

“ He’s with a poor sick lady, and sleeps at 
her house every night instead of coming 
home.” 

“ Does he ever go to Harley Street ? ” 

“During the day to see patients who go 
to him.” 

“ Could Mr. Lyons go up ? ” 

104 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


105 


“ No. He faints if he moves much. He’s 
very, very weak.” 

“ It’s a bad case.” Bill hammered away 
in silence at a wonderful trunk he was try- 
ing to manufacture for Lucy’s doll. Dr. 
Maybank thought it a good thing that every 
boy should learn a trade, no matter what his 
rank in life might be, or what profession 
he meant to take to when he grew up. Bill 
had a taste for carpentry, and so he had fitted 
up a little workshop for him, and engaged 
the village carpenter to give him lessons in 
his spare hours. 

“ It is a very bad case, indeed,” Bunt said, 
after a while. She was sitting on a big block 
of wood with Jingo in her arms and Abbess 
stretched out asleep among the shavings at 
her feet. “ Mother says she fears there’s 
very little any one can do for him.” 

“ The poor kiddy loves me so. I wish 
father were at home to try to save his life.” 

“ Yes,” Bunt replied. “ I wish he were.” 

Bill whacked hard at a big nail, growing 


106 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


red all over in his efforts to drive it into its 
place. 

“ Mrs. Lyons is very curious about papa,” 
he said, presently, pausing in his work. 
“ She asked me such a lot of questions yes- 
terday about him. She said she was long- 
ing to see and speak to him.” 

“ That's because she has heard he is such 
a clever doctor. I told Fay all he had done, 
the other morning in the park, so, of 
course, she wishes to see him and get him to 
cure her husband.” 

“ Yes — of course. Bunt, I tell you what ! ” 
Bill threw down his hammer. “ I’ll write 
to papa, and beg him to come home to-mor- 
row evening. That lady could do without 
him for once. I’ll tell him how ill Mr. 
Lyons is, and you’ll see he’ll come.” 

“ Capital ! Why didn’t we think of that 
before?” 

“ I really can’t say. But better late than 
never. Come along to the school-room and 
we’ll concoct a letter together.” 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


107 


“ Perhaps he won’t come. To-morrow is 
the night of the party, and although Mrs. 
Lonergan begged him very hard to come and 
see us in our pretty dresses, he refused.” 

“ He’d do more — give up more to help a 
poor sick man, than he would to give himself 
pleasure. I think he’ll come if I tell him 
he’s really wanted.” 

In the school-room Bill sat himself down 
at a table and got ready his pen, ink, and 
paper. 

“ c My dear father,’ ” he wrote. Then be- 
gan to suck the top of his penholder, and 
knit his brows together in deep thought. 

“ It’s hard to put. How shall I tell him 
what I want, Bunt?” 

“ Oh, just plain and straight.” 

“Yes, but how?” 

“ Like this. ‘ There’s a poor, sick gentle- 
man at Earl’s Cottage. He’s very, very ill, 
and Bunt and I want you to come and make 
him well.’ Will that do?” 

“ First rate. You’re a brick. Wait a 


108 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


moment.” Then slowly and with great care 
Bill wrote what she had told him. “ Now/’ 
he asked after a time, “what next?” 

“ ‘ His wife sings and plays and wears a 
mask, and little Fay dances most beautiful. 
Mrs. Lyons, that’s the lady’s name, used to 
live in America, and she reminds us of you. 
It sounds funny, but she does. So please, 
please come.’ ” She stopped, and Bill looked 
up. 

“Well?” 

“ That’s enough. Father will know from 
that what we want.” 

“ Of course. It’s as clear as day. But I 
must add this: ‘Bunt has told me all what 
to say — so do come. Come to-morrow night. 

“ ‘ Your loving son, 

“ f Bill Maybank.’ ” 

“ That’s a very fine letter,” he said, stick- 
ing and directing his envelope. “ And if I 
am not very much mistaken, it will bring 
the pater home at once.” 

“Yes. He’s always ready to do good. 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


109 


mamma says. So he’ll come — he’11 come. 
And if he comes Mr. Lyons will get well.” 
And she hopped gaily up and down the room. 

“ Now to the post,” cried Bill. “ Hur- 
rah, hurrah, here come the Lonergans, 
and I declare the fairy Fay is seated be- 
tween them ! To the post, Bunt, and then 
for a lively morning in the wigwams. We’ll 
introduce Fay to savage-land, and give her 
a name.” And he ran down the stairs with 
a hop, skip and a jump. 

The preparations for the party, the les- 
sons in dancing, the rehearsals of the pro- 
cession and the cotillion, kept the children 
occupied and happy. One day, the Loner- 
gans, several little ones from country houses 
near, and Fay and Mrs. Lyons would meet 
at Nightingales and rejoice Mrs. Maybank 
with a sight of their performance; the next 
afternoon they would assemble at Maple- 
wood and spend hours there, dancing lancers, 
quadrilles, and the two-step, and even trying 
on their dresses. 


110 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


At last, everything was declared to be 
perfect. Mrs. Lyons had proved a most 
efficient teacher, and had not only taught the 
children the figures and steps, but had also 
won their hearts. Her gentle ways and 
sweet manner endeared her to all, and the 
little ones were only too eager to do exactly 
what she told them. To the Maybanks she 
became especially dear, and they were al- 
ways planning pleasures for her. 

“ I wish we could make them rich and put 
them into a nice house, and give them a 
pony-trap and bath-chair to take Mr. Lyons 
out in,” Bill said one day, as he and Bunt 
brought Mrs. Lyons and Fay back from 
Maplewood in the carriage, and dropped 
them at Earl’s Cottage. “ A place like that 
isn’t fit for a lady to live in.” 

“ Ho. But no strangers could make them 
rich. Mrs. Lyons wouldn’t let them.” 

"Ho, of course not. But it seems to me 
jolly hard that some people should be rich 
and others poor. It doesn’t seem fair.” 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


Ill 


“It must be fair since God has arranged 
it so/* Bunt said, thoughtfully. “ Mother 
says everything He allows is best.” 

“Yes. But then sometimes He lets poor 
people get rich. Father used to be very 
poor. He and his sister had to work so 
hard, he says, and it took him years to get 
like he is now.” 

“ I wonder if Aunt Marion got rich, too.” 

“ Oh, that no one knows. Father doesn’t 
even know where she is.” 

“ I’m so sorry. I’d like to know her, and 
then if she had children they would be our 
cousins.” 

Bill laughed gaily. 

“Of course they would. And I must 
say it would be very nice to have some 
cousins. The Lonergans have simply shoals.” 

“ Yes. And they have lots of uncles and 
aunts. We have only one aunt, whom we 
don’t know and never saw. Mamma says 
the world is badly divided. She hadn’t any 
brothers or sisters.” 


112 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


“ I call that hard lines.. I’m glad there 
are two of us, Bunt.” 

“ So am I. I wonder if Aunt Marion and 
Mrs. Lyons ever met out there.” 

“ No, they never did. You forget what 
a very big place America is.” 

“ No, I don’t; but there’s always a chance 
in a big place.” 

“ Oh, yes. But she says she never met any 
one called Maybank in America.” 

“ Did you ask her ? ” 

“Yes. And she did look strange for a 
moment. She grew scarlet and then quite 
pale.” 

“ How funny ! But supposing she had met 
Aunt Marion without knowing her ? ” 

Bill opened his eyes very wide and 
laughed. 

“How could she do that?” 

“ Quite well. If Aunt Marion were mar- 
ried she would not be called Maybank.” 

“True. But if that were so, it doesn’t 
matter whether they met or not, as we can 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter . 


113 


never know. I wonder if papa has had any 
news lately.” 

“ Not a word. Mamma says he is in very 
bad spirits.” 

“ Poor papa. He’s always wishing he had 
not put off writing to her for so long.” 

“ Yes. He says if he had only remem- 
bered the proverb, ‘ Never put off till to-mor- 
row what you can do to-day/ he’d be hap- 
pier now.” 

“ Well, let us take a lesson from it all,” 
said Bill, as the carriage stopped at the hall 
door. “I always want to put off doing 
things I don’t like.” 

Bunt laughed. 

“ I’m afraid we’re all like that.” 

“ Well, let us be good for to-day, and go at 
once to our lessons.” 

Bunt made a wry face. 

“ Very well. I’m willing.” And she 
sprang up the steps into the house, and fol- 
lowed Bill to the school-room. 

As the days went over, their interest in 


114 


Bunt and Bill Write a Letter. 


Mrs. Lyons and Fay increased, and before 
the end of the week, they felt that they loved 
them as very old friends, indeed. Then, one 
afternoon, on going on a message to the cot- 
tage, Bill was introduced to Mr. Lyons. The 
man’s pale, sad face, his thin hands and 4 
emaciated figure, unlike anything he had ever 
seen, touched the little boy, and filled him 
with pity. He thought and wondered what 
he could do to make him strong, and at last, 
upon Bunt’s declaring that what he re- 
quired was a good doctor, he wrote the letter 
we have seen, and carried it off in triumph 
to the post. 

That afternoon came a telegram ad- 
dressed to Bill from his father. 

“Will come to-morrow night if possible.” 

“ Hurrah, hurrah ! I knew he would,” 
the boy cried in delight. “We need fret no 
more about Mr. Lyons now. He’ll soon be 
all right.” 


CHAPTER VII. 

THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS. 

It was a great relief to Mrs. Lyons not to 
be obliged to tramp round the country for 
several hours a day, playing and singing, and 
making little Fay dance, and she was more 
than grateful to the kind ladies who gave her 
congenial work to do, and paid her well for 
doing it. But in spite of this improvement 
in her way of living, in spite of her joy in 
seeing Fay so happy and beloved, she was 
often very anxious and sad at heart. 

“ This can not last,” she would say. 
"And poor Robert does not get well. The 
air here is excellent, the weather is fine, and 
for the last few days he has been well fed. 
Yet I see little or no change in him. And 
then, in this out-of-the-way, quiet place, I 
am not likely to get news of poor John. 

115 


116 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

When I first heard the name Maybank, how 
my heart jumped. A wild idea flashed 
across my mind that I had at last found the 
brother I was looking for. But I soon felt 
I must be wrong. The great Dr. May- 
bank of Harley Street and Nightingales is 
a very different person from John Maybank, 
of Parson’s Green. And yet I longed to 
see him, till I heard Mrs. Lonergan’s ac- 
count of him. Then I was sure he was a 
stranger, and resolved to put all thought of 
him out of my head. Of what use to build 
castles in the air? Of what use to dream 
of a happiness that can never come ? ” She 
sighed and passed her hand across her eyes. 
“ Had he been at home I might have settled 
the question at once. For even after all 
these years of separation, I could not fail to 
recognize my brother if I saw him. Dear 
little Bunt and Bill ! What faith they have 
in their father. One word,” smiling, “one 
look from him, would, they believe, be quite 
sufficient to cure my poor Robert, and make 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 117 

him well forever. And I am resolved that 
he shall have that look, that word, before 
long. I have not much money,” she took a 
box from the table drawer and counted the 
shillings it contained, “ but I will soon have 
enough to pay his fee. So when the party 
is over, and Mrs. Lonergan gives me the 
three guineas promised, Fll go boldly to 
Nightingales, and ask to see the doctor. Fll 
tell him my story, explain my difficulties, and 
beg him to visit my poor husband. If he is 
at all like his wife and children he will not 
refuse, and for the small sum I can offer 
him he will surely undertake the case, and 
do all he can to restore poor Robert to 
health.” 

Consoled by this thought Mrs. Lyons 
managed to rouse her spirits, and to throw 
herself into the work of teaching and train- 
ing her little pupils with great zest and in- 
terest. Their progress delighted her, and 
their love and affection comforted and con- 
soled her. 


118 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

“If only things were just a little wee bit 
better with ns, and Robert on the way to 
recovery, I could be very happy here,” she 
wonld tell herself. “ Such kind friends, 
such love and attention are very, very 
sweet.” 

So the time passed, and at last, the even- 
ing of the great party came round. The 
children were in wild spirits all day. They 
were in the house and out of the house, 
round the farm-yard and into the wigwams, 
but could not rest in one place, or at one 
thing, for more than a few moments to- 
gether. 

Bill’s telegram was read and re-read. The 
secret of his father’s return was known only 
to him and Bunt. He would not even tell 
his mother. 

“ It will only be a pleasant surprise for 
her,” he said, when his sister remonstrated 
and begged him to tell Mrs. Maybank. 
“And I like to keep the exact hour of his 
coming a secret. It is more fun. His 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 119 

dressing-room is always ready, because he 
might come any evening, so it does not mat- 
ter. But, oh, I feel wild with joy when I 
think that we shall see him to-night, and be 
able to tell him all about Mr. Lyons. Be- 
tween that, and the fun of the party, I feel 
quite off my head.” 

“ You look it,” said Bunt, laughing. “ I 
never saw you so excited.” 

“ Because I never was so wild before. It’s 
so lovely to think that soon we’ll have made 
Fay and her father and mother quite happy, 
that I can’t help feeling delighted.” 

As Mrs. Lyons stood dressed for the party 
that evening in a long gown of black bro- 
cade, some soft white chiffon folded across 
her breast, a bunch of red roses fastened on 
the front of her bodice, a flush of pleasure 
in her fair face, her brown hair drawn up 
in thick loops and coils on the top of her 
head, her husband gazed at her in delight. 

“ I have altered the dress well,” she said, 
smiling. “ Mrs. Maybank will be surprised 


120 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

to see how nicely it fits. It was kind of her 
to give it to me.” 

"Very. And, my darling, yon are look- 
ing like your old self. That/’ he heaved a 
deep sigh, “ is the way you should always 
be dressed. It reminds me of the days gone 
by, before I became the helpless creature I 
am now.” 

Tears sprang to her eyes, and she bent 
and kissed him tenderly. 

“ Those days, or something very like them, 
will come again, Robert. We have found 
good friends. They will help us in every 
way they can. To-morrow I will tell Mrs. 
Lonergan my whole family history. Her 
husband is a lawyer, and he will, I feel sure, 
help me to discover poor John. That is,” 
sighing, “if he is living.” 

“ At first, I used to dream that this rich 
Dr. Maybank was your brother, love.” 

She laughed softly, and pressed his hand. 

“ So used I. But they were foolish 
dreams. We are not likely to find John at 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 121 

the top of the tree like this gentleman. He 
may be in a very different position, my poor 
Robert, when we do find him.” 

He sighed heavily and raised her hand to 
his lips. 

“When we do find him! Poor Marion, 
yon still hope to do so?” 

“ God is good,” she said reverently. “ I 
still hope. And so must yon.” 

“ I will try. Bnt I confess I find it hard 
to do so.” 

“ That I can understand,” gazing at him 
sadly. “ Bnt yon mnst not lose heart, dear 
love. ’Tis the unexpected that happens, re- 
member, and any day some lucky chance 
may bring John to our very door.” 

He smiled and caressed her hand. 

“Your courage is wonderful. And now, 
what is keeping Fay? Her toilet appears 
to be a lengthy one.” 

Mrs. Lyons’ face lit up with pleasure, and 
she laughed brightly. 

“ I should just think it is. Biddy and 


122 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

she have been hours over it. They examine 
each article before putting it on, discuss 
and admire the make and the shape at 
great length. So naturally, the dressing 
takes a long time. Biddy is almost beside 
herself with excitement. She never saw 
such finery in her life before. Her excla- 
mations of delight are most amusing, and 
her compliments are enough to turn our dar- 
ling’s head. You must be careful, for I 
promise you the sight of our little Queen of 
Hearts will fairly take your breath away.” 

“ She will be very lovely, I’m sure. I 
must paint her in the dress,” glancing sadly 
at the unfinished portrait of his darling upon 
the easel, and sighing, “ when I am 
stronger.” 

“ Yes, dear. She and her companion 
cards, Bunt and Bill, would make a charm- 
ing picture, and we might give it to Mrs. 
Maybank. Her kindness to our darling 
Fay is wonderful.” 

“ It will be the first thing I do,” he cried 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 123 


eagerly. “ I long to begin the picture at 
once. But hark ! Is that not her gracious 
majesty arriving ? ” 

The patter of little feet, the sound of 
merry laughter, quickly suppressed, was 
heard in the passage. Then came a moment 
of silence, followed by a few whispered 
words, and the door was flung open, and 
Fay, a radiant and dazzling figure, tripped 
into the room, and across the floor to her 
father’s sofa. 

“ My little Queen of Hearts, I kiss your 
hand,” Mr. Lyons cried, raising himself 
upon his pillow and carrying the child’s 
hand to his lips. 

But this did not please little Fay, and 
turning, she threw her arms round his neck, 
and laid her cheek against his. 

“ Isn’t it lovely, daddy ? Did you ever 
see such a frock?” 

“ Never outside fairyland,” he answered, 
laughing. “Did the queen of the fairies 
lend it to you, sweetheart ? ” 


124 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

“ Xo. It is my very own. Made for me 
by Mrs. Lonergan’s French maid.” 

“ Then she must be related to the fairies.” 

“ She may have had a few lessons in dress- 
making from them,” the child answered 
gravely. “And I do believe she had, for it 
looks like fairy work.” 

Then telling Biddy to spread out her 
train, she raised her pretty head and strutted 
up and down the room, gracefully waving a 
white feather fan, as she peeped back over 
her shoulders to see what her father thought 
of her finery. 

“ It’s perfect,” he cried. “ From the 
golden crown on your flowing curls to the tip 
of your little white satin slipper, it’s perfect. 
You’re a charming Queen, my Fay. I trust 
your King may be worthy to walk with you.” 

“ Of course. Why, Bill is my King, 
papa,” she cried, swinging round again. 
“ He is a perfectly delightful King, I assure 
you.” 

He laughed, and held out his hand. “I 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 125 


can quite believe that. I am very fond of 
Master Bill myself.” 

“ Every one is. He teases a little some- 
times, but he’s very kind.” 

Mr. Lyons lay back upon his pillow, 
noting every detail of the child’s pretty dress 
and figure. 

And certainly the whole thing was a tri- 
umph of art. The frock and train were of 
white satin embroidered in gold, and bor- 
dered with small hearts worked in soft red 
silk. The bodice was trimmed with jewels; 
the crown, small and light, was of filigree 
gold lace, mounted upon some marvelously 
fine and invisible wire. 

“ It’s charming to look at, but for danc- 
ing and romping I fear it will be inconve- 
nient,” Mr. Lyons said after a time. “ The 
train and fan will be in your way, little 
one.” 

“Ah, my clever papa, you don’t know 
how these things are done.” She made him 
a sweeping curtsy. “ The fan is to be laid 


126 The King and Queen of Hearts. 


aside. So also is the train. Immediately 
after the procession, we all go to the dress- 
ing-room, and in a minute these things are 
taken away from us, and we are free to hop 
and skip and dance as we please. We dance 
through a game of Old Maid, and romp 
round in a game of Poker. Oh, it will be 
a lovely time! I’m just longing to begin.” 

“ Well, then, you’d better be off. Has the 
fly come ? ” 

Fay drew herself up. 

“ The Queen of Hearts in a fly ? My dear 
papa, are you dreaming ? ” 

He laughed. 

“ Ho, dear. But unless Biddy wheels you 
to Maplewood in the hand cart, I don’t 
see — ■” 

“You don’t see — of course not.” Fay 
danced over and kissed him lightly on the 
forehead. “ But you forget how kind the 
Maybanks are, and that they keep a carriage. 
Bunt and Bill ought to be here by now. It 
is late.” 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 127 

“ Are they really coming to fetch you ? ” 

“ Yes. They are anxious to show them- 
selves to you, and to drive us to Maple- 
wood.” 

“ The dear, thoughtful children.” He 
spoke with emotion. “ I will indeed be glad 
to see them, though I confess to feeling a 
little tired.” 

“ Poor papa ! I was afraid you would be 
done up. But you must take a peep at Bunt. 
She is the Queen of Clubs, as she is dark, 
and she does look sweet. But hark! I’m 
sure I heard the carriage.” 

Fay flew across to the window, her satin 
train streaming behind her, and catching in 
chairs and tables as she went along. 

“ Dear heart ! Musha, sure the satin will 
be soiled and crumpled, not fit to be seen,” 
shrieked Biddy, in an agony lest the lovely 
train should be injured. “ Be careful, 
alanna. Do look where you’re goin\” 

The little girl laughed, and pulled the 
train up over her arm. 


128 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

“ Don’t be alarmed, Bid, it’s all right. 
And I must say it is rather a nuisance. I’m 
glad I don’t always wear a train.” 

She raised the blind and peered out into 
the moonlit road. A carriage and pair stood 
at the door, and soon the sound of merry 
voices and peals of laughter announced who 
its occupants were. 

“Here they are. Oh, what bundles they 
look ! ” Fay cried, as she saw the footman 
assist Bunt and Bill to alight. 

“ To be sure they are well wrapped up, 
and so you will be presently, asthore,” re- 
marked Biddy, and she went into the passage 
to help the children to take off their cloaks. 
“ Musha, you’re just lovely,” she said. 
“ And the poor masther’ll be delighted.” 

“ I hope he will,” began Bill. “ Be- 
cause — ■” 

“ Come in, come in,” interrupted Fay, 
running out to meet them. “We are quite 
ready, and papa is just longing to see you. 
He thinks me lovely.” 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 129 


" Is he well enough ? Shall we not tire 
him too much ? ” asked Bunt in a whisper. 

" Oh, I think not. A little excitement 
does him good,” Fay replied gaily. " If you 
don’t stay too long, the sight of you will raise 
his spirits.” 

"We must pay him a very short visit. 
Mother is waiting for us all.” 

" Oh, won’t she come in ? ” Fay cried. 
" Do ask her to come in.” 

" No, no. It wouldn’t do.” Bill laid his 
hand on the child’s arm. " Please don’t ask 
her. She says invalids should never be al- 
lowed to see strangers, and she knows, for 
she’s a doctor’s wife, remember.” 

"Yes.” Fay looked up quickly. "And 
when is your father coming home, Bill? 
I’m longing for him to come.” 

" So are we,” Bunt said, kissing her. 
" And we think, we hope, he’ll be here be- 
fore long.” 

Bill looked at his sister with flashing eyes, 
and put his finger to his lips. 


130 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

“ I’ve said nothing I oughtn’t to say/’ she 
whispered. “ That’s not telling our secret. 
And you know, after all, it’s not likely he’ll 
come to-night.” 

“ All the more reason for saying nothing. 
And I am disappointed. All the joy of 
the happy surprise I thought was in store for 
them is gone. He won’t come to-night, I’m 
sure.” 

“ Well, it’s not his fault, you may — ” 

“I never said it was. But stop talking 
about it. It’s rude to whisper before Fay. 
And it makes me sorry when I think of how 
nice it would be if he had been with us 
now. Well, my Queen of Hearts,” turning 
to pretty Fay, “ please take your King in, 
and introduce him to your father.” 

“ With the greatest of pleasure,” Fay 
cried, throwing the door open. “ Give me 
your hand, Bill, and we’ll walk in like a real 
King and Queen.” 

"I’ll give you my hand,” Bill laughed. 
"But I haven’t the faintest idea how real 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 131 


Kings walk. You will of course trip in like 
a fairy queen. However, come along. Fll 
do my best to look like a King.” And 
straightening himself, he laid one hand on 
his sword, the other on Fay’s slim little fin- 
gers, and led her into the room. 

Mr. Lyons was looking very white and 
worn, but a smile of pleasure passed over his 
face as the pretty trio entered, and ap- 
proached his sofa. 

“You are charming,” he said, in a low, 
weak voice, “all three, and I hope you 
will enjoy yourselves. I wish,” sighing, “ I 
could go with you. But you see, I am a 
prisoner. My legs are no use to me, and so 
I have to lie here while you dance and make 
merry.” 

“ I’m so sorry,” said Bill, a shadow cross- 
ing his bonnie face. “Were you very fond 
of dancing, Mr. Lyons?” 

The sick man laughed. 

“ Very,” he answered. “ And do you 
know, I used to dance very well.” 


132 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

Bill sighed, and looked at him sadly. 

“ Then it’s a great pity you’re not strong. 
Mrs. Lonergan’s longing for men who can 
dance,” he remarked. “ Papa’s no good, 
even if he were here, and Mr. Lonergan’s 
worse. He is Hike a bull in a china shop,’ 
his wife says, in a ball-room. And I take 
after papa. I try very hard, but I always 
get into the middle of the room, and stick 
there, and then my partner, Lucy, or Bunt, 
or Clarice, gets angry, and sometimes runs 
and leaves me. One day Lucy boxed my 
ears.” 

Mr. Lyons was much amused, but did not 
like to laugh lest he should hurt the boy’s 
feelings. 

“ That must have been very trying,” he 
said gravely. “ I trust,” turning to his lit- 
tle daughter, “that you will never treat 
your handsome young King in such a way, 
my bonnie Queen of Hearts. It would be 
most unseemly.” 

Fay blushed, and opened and shut her fan, 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 133 


as she peeped from under her long lashes at 
Bill. Then a smile hovered round the cor- 
ners of her mouth, and a delicious little dim- 
ple showed itself in each cheek. 

“ I’m afraid I sometimes push him away 
when he dances all out of time, daddy. 
Don’t I, Bill?” 

“ I should think so. You’re not over 
polite when I step on your toe or push you 
up against a table. But you’re not half as 
cross as Lucy, although you dance so well.” 

“ The Queen of Hearts must keep her tem- 
per,” Mr. Lyons said, smiling. “ Every one 
is not the nimble fairy she is.” 

“I should think not,” Bill cried. “And 
it is no wonder she hates dancing with me. 
I’m a horrible partner. I’m no good as a 
dancer, and never shall be, and I didn’t want 
to learn one bit. I only agreed to do so be- 
cause I wanted to be Fay’s King to-night.” 

“ That’s charming. So you must be kind 
to him, after that, my sweet Fay, and help 
him as much as you can.” 


134 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

“ Oh, yes, daddy, of course. And then 
Bill walks beautifully in the procession, and 
he’s very good at Poker and Old Maid.” 
Fay laughed merrily. “ They are such 
lovely romps. Eh, Bill ? ” 

“ Glorious.” He hopped up and down 
the room, till suddenly his sword went be- 
tween his legs and threw him flat upon his 
face on the floor. 

“ What a fall was there, my countrymen,” 
cried Mr. Lyons, laughing. “ My dear boy, 
how are you going to dance? If you pros- 
trate yourself in that fashion in the ball- 
room, it will be unpleasant for every one.” 

“ It was my sword did that,” said Bill, 
jumping up and rubbing his knees. “ I for- 
got all about it. But we take off all these 
extra things before the dancing begins.” 

“ That’s very lucky. Otherwise I fear 
there would be some terrible scenes. The 
trains and swords and fans would cause a 
glorious confusion.” 

The children laughed, and in the midst of 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 135 


the merriment, Mrs. Lyons noticed that her 
husband looked weary and exhausted. 

“ I must get them away at once,” she 
thought, “or he’ll have one of his fainting 
fits.” 

Bunt stole up to her, and slipped her lit- 
tle hand into hers. 

“Will you come, Mrs. Lyons, please? 
Mother will be tired waiting.” 

“Waiting? Is Mrs. Maybank waiting?” 

“Yes, in the carriage.” 

“ Then, indeed, we must go. Come, chil- 
dren, quick. Good-night, Robert. Biddy, 
see that the master has his beef-tea at once.” 

And putting on her own cloak, and roll- 
ing Fay up in a big shawl, she swept the 
children out of the cottage and into the car- 
riage. 

Mrs. Maybank welcomed them gladly. 

“I thought you were never coming,” she 
said. “You must have tired Mr. Lyons by 
staying so long.” 

“He was delighted to see them,” Mrs. 


136 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

Lyons answered. “ So delighted that I did 
not like to hurry them away too soon. But 
I am very sorry to have kept you waiting. 
I did not know till a moment ago that you 
were in the carriage. Pray forgive me.” 

“ There is nothing to forgive. I was quite 
happy. But I was uneasy lest they should 
tire your husband. How is he to-night ? ” 
“ This is one of his good days, and he was 
interested and amused to see the little ones 
in their fancy dresses. But,” sighing heavily, 
“ he does not gain strength. It is his heart, 
I fear, and the small airless rooms of the cot- 
tage try him severely.” 

Mrs. Maybank glanced at the graceful 
figure by her side, and as the soft rays of the 
moon fell upon Mrs. Lyons’ fair, sad face, 
she felt deeply touched, and full of pity for 
her in her anxiety and trouble. 

“ I wonder who and what these people 
are,” she thought. “ And what has reduced 
them to such poverty. She is a lady in the 
truest sense of the word. Yet her mode of 


The King and Queen of Hearts 


137 


making money is a strange one. I would like 
to know her story. That she has suffered 
and still suffers, is very evident.” Then 
turning to Mrs. Lyons, she laid her hand 
gently on hers, saying, “ Don’t fret about 
your husband. He is not as ill as you fear. 
I trust. When Dr. Maybank comes back he 
will see what he can do for him.” 

“ Thank you. That is what I am hoping. 
When will he be back?” 

“ I hardly know. He has been delayed by 
some important business, or he would have 
been here for this party. He was most 
anxious to see the children in their pretty 
dresses.” 

“A doctor is not always master of his 
time,” said Mrs. Lyons. 

" This is not professional business. The 
lady he was attending in the country is al- 
most quite well. But some important news 
of a friend for whom he has long been look- 
ing reached him just at the last moment, 
and delayed his arrival.” 


138 The King and Queen of Hearts. 


Bill sat up in his corner on the back seat 
of the carriage and seized his mother’s hand. 

“ When did you hear that ? Are you sure 
he won’t come to-night ? ” 

“ Quite sure. His letter yesterday morn- 
ing said he could not come to-night.” 

“ Yesterday morning! That’s old news,” 
cried Bill. “ My telegram came after that.” 

“Your telegram? Did he telegraph to 
you ? ” asked Mrs. Maybank, in astonish- 
ment. 

“ Yes. I’ve let out my secret, but,” 
laughing, “ it doesn’t matter after all. Bunt 
and I were anxious to get him to cure Mr. 
Lyons as soon as possible. So I wrote 
(Bunt told me what to say, for I’m an awful 
duffer at letter-writing), begging him to 
come as soon as ever he could, and he wired 
to me, mother, promising to be here to- 
night if he possibly could. I know my 
father, and I’m sure he’ll come. So cheer 
up, Mrs. Lyons. There’s a good time com- 
ing for you.” 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 


139 


Mrs. Lyons’ eyes filled with tears, and she 
pressed the little boy’s hand tightly within 
her own. 

“ God bless yon,” she said in a voice full 
of emotion. “ You and Bunt are the kindest 
and most thoughtful children I ever knew. 
I am longing to see Dr. Maybank and hear 
his opinion of my dear husband. I have 
heard so much of his cleverness that I feel 
sure he will cure him.” 

“ I am convinced he will,” cried Bill. 

“ I have longed to get some good advice 
for Robert. But then I was so poor that I 
could not • pay the fees,” said Mrs. Lyons 
sadly. "And I had so few — in fact, no 
friends in England, till I met you.” 

“ Papa loves to help poor people,” said 
Bill. “ He was once very poor himself, and 
often tells us how he had to work to get on. 
Doesn’t he, mamma?” 

“ Yes, dear. And he’s very proud that he 
has done so. He began with hardly a friend 
in the world. But, thank God, he made 


140 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

plenty, and is very rich in that respect at 
present.” 

“ Every one loves papa,” Bunt said softly. 
“ And I am sure you will do the same, Mrs. 
Lyons, when you know him.” 

“ If he’s anything like his children, Bunt 
and Bill,” she answered smiling, “I’m sure 
I shall.” 

“ Oh, he’s ten times nicer than we are,” 
they cried in a breath. “ Just wait till you 
see.” 

The carriage drove in through the big 
gates of Maplewood, and as they went up 
the long avenue of limes, brilliantly lighted 
for the occasion with gaily colored Chinese 
lanterns, the children became highly excited, 
and forgetting Dr. Maybank and his many 
charms and virtues, they cheered and 
clapped their hands noisily. 

“ Hurrah, hurrah ! ” cried Bill. “ It’s like 
fairyland.” 

“ Much you know,” laughed Bunt. 
“ You’ve never been there. What do you 


The King and Queen of Hearts. 141 


say, our fairy queen ? ” turning to Fay, who 
was gazing out of the carriage in delight. 
“ Is it like the lovely land you have been 
accustomed to ? ” 

“ I never saw anything half so nice be- 
fore,” the child answered gravely. “ And oh, 
oh ! ” — clasping her hands together in an 
ecstasy of joy, as the carriage stopped at the 
hall-door and she caught sight of the daz- 
zling scene within the house, “ isn’t that 
perfectly exquisite?” 

“ Perfectly,” cried Bunt. “ I must say the 
Lonergans may well be proud of this.” 

“ And they will,” laughed Bill. “There’ll 
be no standing Lucy. Between her delight 
in her dress as Queen of Spades, her pride 
in the rooms, and her delight in having that 
chap Leonard O’Brien to dance with, she 
won’t have a word for me, her oldest friend.” 

Bunt laughed gaily. 

“ I hope the Knave of Hearts will give me 
a dance. Leonard is the best partner we’ve 
got.” 


142 The King and Queen of Hearts. 

" Because he’s tall and big, and can steer 
well, you girls all like him,” Bill said, with 
an impatient shrug of his shoulders. " But 
he’s too old for you, Bunt. He’s quite four- 
teen.” 

" Age doesn’t matter,” Bunt replied. 
" He knows his steps and has a good ear for 
music. You have no ear, Bill, and I am sorry 
to say you don’t know your steps.” 

"Well, you needn’t jeer at a fellow for 
that. It’s not my fault that I don’t know 
one tune from another, and can’t keep time. 
I don’t pretend to be a dancer.” 

"You couldn’t do that, my poor boy.” 

" You’re certainly no.t encouraging,” 
sighed Bill. "I suppose I shall have to 
stand in a corner or do wall-flower on a 
bench all night. You’ll all turn up your 
dainty noses at poor me.” 

Fay slipped her little hand into his. 

" I will dance with you, Bill,” she said 
sweetly. " You are my King, and I’ll waltz 
with you just as often as you like.” 


The King and Queen of Hearts . 143 


“You darling.” Bill gave her a hearty 
kiss. “ Then I don’t care who dances with 
Leonard O’Brien, not one bit.” And as the 
little girl was lifted out of the carriage, he 
followed her gaily into the hall. 


CHAPTEK VIII. 

AN UNEXPECTED ENDING. 

The procession was over and the dancing 
had not yet begun. The kings, queens, 
knaves, aces, and in fact all of the fifty-two 
children representing the various cards in a 
pack, tripped up and down over the shining 
parquet, showing off their sumptuous dresses 
to their admiring mothers and friends. It 
was a pretty scene. The beautiful, lofty 
rooms were brilliantly lighted. Banks of 
flowers and tall palms stood in every corner. 
Wreaths of roses hung down round the door- 
ways and mirrors, and were looped grace- 
fully from window to window, over the gold- 
colored brocade curtains. 

“My friends, listen.” Clarice, looking 
quite tall and stately as Queen of Diamonds, 
clapped her hands to attract the attention of 
144 


An Unexpected Ending. 


145 


the excited children. “ For one quarter of 
an hour you may strut about and show trains 
and swords, then when you hear the gong in 
the hall, please go into the dressing-room 
and lay aside these most troublesome things 
and proceed to the dining-room. Here a 
good half hour will be allowed for tea, and 
then we come back and dance. I trust this 
programme pleases you all.” 

“ Yes, yes,” the children cried, then 
strolled off in twos and threes round the 
spacious rooms and into the conservatory. 

Mrs. Lyons, whose services were not re- 
quired till after tea, now that the procession 
was over, sat in a big armchair at the end of 
the room, watching the quaint and wonderful 
figures of some of the little ones with con- 
siderable amusement. 

“ It's a pretty and quaint fancy, the whole 
thing,” she thought. “ And some of the 
children carry their rich costumes with a 
good deal of grace. But none so well as my 
sweet Fay. Where is she, I wonder? In 


146 


An Unexpected Ending. 


some pleasant place with her beloved Bunt 
and Bill. I am not sure that I am right 
in allowing her to take part in such fes- 
tivities, to see and enjoy so much luxury. 
Ah, well, it can do little harm now. At 
her age it can not matter, and later on, she 
will have hardships and trials enough, poor 
lamb, unless — But what is the matter with 
Bill ? He looks strangely excited. I hope,” 
springing to her feet, “ no accident has hap- 
pened to — Bill,” she cried, as the little 
boy ran past her, his cheeks burning, his eyes 
blazing with excitement, “ what is wrong ? ” 

Bill sprang back and caught her hand. 

"I nearly missed you, and I have been 
looking for you all round the rooms. Fay 
is with Bunt and Clarice, and nothing is 
wrong,” he cried, and the joyful ring in his 
voice set her heart at rest at once. “ In fact, 
everything is as right and as happy as can 
be. My father has just arrived.” 

She put her hand quickly to her forehead, 
and sank back into her chair. 


An Unexpected Ending. 


147 


“Your father? Dr. Maybank here? 
Oh, Bill.” A sob choked her, and her heart 
began to throb wildly. “Is he, my child? 
Really?” 

Bill laughed and chuckled with delight. 

“I guessed you’d be surprised and over- 
joyed. But I knew he was coming. You 
heard me telling mother in the carriage that 
I had written to beg him to come as soon as 
he could, and that he had telegraphed that 
he would arrive this evening. Then he 
didn't appear, and I was beginning to be dis- 
appointed and feel afraid that he had not 
been able to get away after all. Still, deep 
down, I believed he would turn up some time 
to-night. And so, just as I was going across 
the hall to leave my sword in the dressing- 
room the door opened, and in he walked. 
Dear father, I was glad. And now,” he con- 
tinued, breathlessly, “he wants to see you. 
He’s not in evening dress, as he has not had 
time to change, so he will not come in among 
the guests here. He has gone to Mrs. Lon- 


148 


An Unexpected Ending. 


ergan’s boudoir, and is waiting for you to 
come to him there. He wants to ask you all 
kinds of questions about Mr. Lyons. So do 
come.” 

"Yes, dear boy.” She was very white. 
The meeting with Dr. Maybank might mean 
a great deal to her. Doctors knew each 
other, she told herself, and he might be able 
to give her news of her brother. And then 
his visit to her husband, his verdict as to his 
condition, and the hopes he would give her 
of his recovery, were all so important that 
she longed for, yet dreaded, her first inter- 
view with him. 

"Well,” cried Bill, catching her hand, 
" what are you looking so startled about ? 
Father’s very kind.” 

" I’m sure he is. But you see, I must stay 
and play for the dancing. That is what I 
am here for.” 

Bill laughed gaily. 

"After tea you must play. But that 
won’t be over for an age. You have lots of 


An Unexpected Ending. 


149 


time to tell father all about Mr. Lyons and 
arrange when he is to visit him. So come 
along.” And he dragged her out of the 
drawing-room, and down the beautifully 
decorated hall to the boudoir. 

On a low seat under a big spreading palm, 
Dr. Maybank leaned back rather wearily. 
He was feeling tired and depressed, and even 
the soft touch of his little daughter’s arms 
round his neck, her cheek gently laid against 
his, could not raise his drooping spirits. 

“ All my efforts — all my inquiries have 
been in vain,” he said to his wife, who stood 
watching him with anxious eyes. “And I 
have lost heart. I shall never find Marion 
now. I am full of remorse for my careless 
unkindness and wicked thoughtlessness in 
putting off writing to her. My neglect of 
what was a positive duty is the cause of all 
this. Take warning, my pet,” he kissed 
Bunt’s rosy cheek, “and never put off till 
to-morrow what you can do to-day. It is an 
admirable motto.” 


150 


An Unexpected Ending. 


"Yes, papa, Fll try to,” Bunt whispered. 
" And Bill says he will, too.” 

Dr. Maybank smiled and caressed her soft 
dark hair. 

"That’s right, my queen. And now let 
us cheer up. I don’t wish to spoil your 
pleasant party with my gloomy looks and 
words. As soon as I have seen this Mrs. 
Lyons, I’ll go home. What a strange fancy 
you have all taken to this woman and her 
child. She is, I presume, quite a lady, since 
you, my dear,” looking up at his wife, " and 
the fastidious Mrs. Lonergan have taken 
her so completely to your hearts. Yet a 
strolling player, wearing a mask, was a some- 
what doubtful person to take into the family 
as you have done.” 

Mrs. Maybank laughed softly. 

" So we often say. But you see the little 
one attracted the children, and as we always 
like to encourage them to be kind and chari- 
table to every one, we did not interfere. 
When we saw and spoke to Mrs. Lyons we 


An Unexpected Ending. 


151 


rejoiced greatly that we had done nothing to 
stop their friendship with sweet Fay. She 
is a noble Catholic, unselfish and devoted, 
and, as you will see in a moment, as true a 
lady as ever you met. She is poor ; lodges in 
a poor cottage, and works and struggles to 
keep her invalid husband and child from 
starvation. No one can fail to admire her. 
When you meet her, you will, I am sure, 
agree that we were right in allowing the chil- 
dren to know and help her all they could.” 

“ I am sure I shall. You always do right, 
dearest. And this woman must be a noble 
creature. But why doesn’t she come? The 
time is passing,” taking out his watch, “ and 
I have had no dinner yet.” 

“ You might stay and have supper. Mrs. 
Lonergan would excuse your morning dress.” 

“ I am not in spirits for a party,” he said. 
“ Now that I have seen Bunt and Bill in their 
finery, I have had enough, and long to get 
back to my books. Only for Bill’s letter 
I’d have stayed in town to-night.” 


152 


An Unexpected Ending. 


“ I’m glad you came. The child is deeply 
interested in these people, and very anxious 
to get your advice for Mr. Lyons.” 

“ I like to encourage him to help his fel- 
low creatures. Mr. Lyons shall have my 
best attention.” 

The door opened, and Bill ran in, saying in 
an almost triumphant tone, “ Here is Mrs. 
Lyons, father. She was afraid there wasn’t 
time to talk to you. But there’s plenty. 
The tea hasn’t begun yet.” 

As Mrs. Lyons crossed the room, her slen- 
der form looking lady-like and graceful in 
her long black dress, her sweet face a little 
flushed in her nervous trepidation at meeting 
the great physician, Dr. Maybank started, 
and grew red, then pale. 

“Am I — dreaming?” He put Bunt off 
his knee, and rising, went quickly toward 
Mrs. Lyons. “ I am glad — very glad to meet 
you.” 

“ And I — ” She raised her eyes to his, 
gave a sudden gasp, and looked at him closely 


An Unexpected Ending. 


153 


— inquiringly; then uttered a little cry and 
caught his hand. 

“ J ohn — oh, J ohn ! It must be — it sure- 
ly is you. I can not be mistaken. God and 
Our Blessed Lady have heard my prayers. 
It is you.” 

" Marion — my beloved sister — at last ! ” 
He threw his arms round her and drew her 
head upon his breast. " Oh, how I have 
longed, hoped, prayed for this hour.” 

"And I — oh, John, I have prayed fer- 
vently and sought you everywhere.” 

"You have suffered, Marion, all these 
years ? ” 

"Ho, not all. I married my dear hus- 
band eight years ago, and so long as his 
health was good all went well. But he fell 
ill, and for some time has been unable to 
work. I wrote to you over and over again, 
John, but could never get any reply. Then, 
in desperation, I resolved to come and look 
for you. A friend helped me to pay our 
passage money; Biddy paid her own; and 


154 


An Unexpected Ending. 


since landing in England we have just been 
able to live by what we earned — Fay by her 
dancing, I by my singing.” 

“ Now all your troubles are over, dearest. 
Care and good nourishment will soon make 
your husband well again.” 

She smiled happily. 

“And good doctoring. There is a great 
doctor here, to-night, Bunt and Bill’s father, 
who has promised to see him, they tell me. 
Do you know him, John? His name is the 
same as ours. Isn’t it odd ? And he’s won- 
derfully clever.” 

“ My dearest, I thought you knew. I am 
the doctor, Bunt and Bill’s father.” 

“You? Oh, John! Will the surprises 
never cease? Have you really made a name 
for yourself like that ? ” 

“I really have. I think without conceit 
I may say that I am right at the top of the 
tree. But I’ve been writing to you and tell- 
ing you how I was getting on, for a long 
time.” 


An Unexpected Ending. 


155 


“ I never got your letters. I changed so 
often — left place after place. Ah, John, I 
have had a hard time. Even since my mar- 
riage my life has been a trying one, though 
Robert is the best of men.” 

“Your troubles are over, dearest, now. 
But it is no wonder we found it difficult to 
discover each other. I had no idea you had 
married, and we both lived in many different 
places. You never thought of looking among 
the big wigs of Harley Street for your poor 
brother ? ” 

“Ho, indeed. But thank God we have 
found each other at last.” 

“Amen to that. Janet,” turning to his 
wife, “this is Marion. Thanks to you and 
our sweet children, I have found her. Your 
love and charity have been rewarded.” 

“ This is indeed an unexpected joy,” Mrs. 
Maybank cried, kissing the trembling 
woman. “But you must thank Bunt and 
Bill, after God, for your happiness. Only 
for them the masked lady and her pretty 


156 


An Unexpected Ending. 


child might have passed away and been for- 
gotten/’ 

“ Bunt and Bill ! ” Mrs. Lyons caught 
them to her, and they threw their arms 
round her neck. “ God bless you for all 
your love and kindness.” And her tears ran 
down like rain as she bent to kiss the de- 
lighted children. 

“ And now,” said Mrs. Maybank, after a 
moment or two, “ let us go and look for Fay, 
our pretty Queen of Hearts.” 

And wishing to leave the brother and sis- 
ter alone for a while, she led the children 
away. 

* * * * * 

Dr. Maybank’s opinion of his brother-in- 
law was a consoling one. He was weak and 
would require great care, he said, but there 
was no real disease, and he was quite confi- 
dent that he would soon be well and strong 
again. The first and most important thing 
in a case like his, he declared, was good air, 
large rooms, and nourishing diet. To find 


An Unexpected Ending. 


157 


all this in a poor little roadside cottage was 
of course impossible, and so he hurried the 
invalid into his carriage, and drove him off 
to Nightingales at once. 

That evening, Mrs. Lyons, Fay, and Bid- 
dy followed with the luggage, and very 
hearty was the welcome they received when 
arriving at the beautiful old house. 

" You must make this your home till your 
husband is well and earning a good income, 
dearest Marion, ” Dr. Maybank said, looking 
at her with loving eyes. "It will be a joy 
to us to have you, and make you happy.” 

She pressed his hand; her heart was too 
full for words. 

"And the little one?” he asked, after a 
pause. " She loves us, and will, I think, be 
glad to remain.” 

A peal of merry laughter was heard in the 
garden, and from the window they saw the 
children running hand in hand across the 
lawn. 

"Yes,” she answered brightly, her eyes 


158 


An Unexpected Ending. 


following her little daughter’s fairy form. 
“ Fay will be glad to stay with you. She is 
always very happy with her beloved cousins, 
Bunt and Bill." 


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Tom Playfair. 

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